Objective
To determine if bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) of infants and children with parenteral nutrition (PN)-dependent intestinal failure (IF) is lower than healthy controls, and investigate potential causes of lower BMC and BMD.
Methods
We performed a cross-sectional study comparing infants and children with PN-dependent IF with duos of age, sex, and race matched controls. Lumbar spine BMC and BMD were measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, and serum cytokines, aluminum, IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein (IGF-BP)-3, parathyroid hormone, 25(OH) vitamin D, and 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D were measured. Generalized estimating equation models accounting for matching were used for comparisons.
Results
BMC was 15% and BMD was 12% lower in IF participants than controls (p≤0.004). Group differences were attenuated to 3% and 7% and were not statistically significant (p=0.40 and p=0.07) when adjusted for length and weight; length- and weight-for-age were lower in IF than control participants (12.5% vs. 63%; 29.5% vs. 54%, p≤0.03). IF participants had higher serum aluminum (23 vs. 7 mcg/L, p<0.0001), IGF-1 (97 vs. 64 ng/mL, p=0.04), and 25(OH) vitamin D concentrations (40 vs. 30 ng/mL, p=0.0005), and lower IGF-BP3 (1418 vs. 1812 ng/mL, p<0.0001) and parathyroid hormone concentrations (51 vs. 98 pg/mL, p=0.0002) than controls. There was no difference in serum cytokine concentrations (p≥0.09).
Conclusions
Growth retardation is a significant problem for PN-dependent IF patients. Additional investigation is needed to elucidate the cause and its impact on bone mass and density, especially the role of IGF-1 resistance and aluminum toxicity.