Childhood growth, physical activity, and peak bone mass in women

Abstract

Peak bone mass is an important determinant of the risk of osteoporotic fracture, and preventive strategies against osteoporosis require a clear understanding of the factors influencing bone gain in early life. We report a longitudinal study aiming to identify the relationships between childhood growth, lifestyle, and peak bone mass in women. One hundred and fifty-three women born in a British city during 1968-1969 were traced and studied in 1990. Data on their growth in childhood was obtained from linked birth and school health records; current bone mineral measurements were made by dual X-ray absorptiometry. There were statistically significant associations between weight at 1 year and BMC (but not BMD) at the lumbar spine (r = 0.32, p < 0.01) and femoral neck (r = 0.26, p < 0.01). These remained significant after adjusting for current weight. There were also strong relationships between childhood height measurements and adult BMC at the two skeletal sites. Physical activity was the major lifestyle determinant of BMD after allowing for body build. We conclude that infant growth and physical activity in childhood are important determinants of peak bone mass in women. Growth primarily determines the size of the skeletal envelope, and its trajectory is established by age 1 year. Activity, in contrast, modulates the mineral density within the skeletal envelope and may contribute to the consolidation of bone following the end of linear growth.

Umbilical cord levels of sclerostin, placental weight, and birth weight are predictors of total bone mineral content in neonates

“…Birth weight has been associated with long-term effects on health and disease in adult life (34), and several epidemiological studies have shown relationships between growth in early life and the adult bone mass. Similar work in Bath (35) and Hertfordshire, UK (36), showed relationships between the weight at 1 year of age and the adult BMC, and recent studies have found evidence for an association between growth in early life and adult bone health (37,38).…”

Birth weight is more important for peak bone mineral content than for bone density: the PEAK-25 study of 1,061 young adult women

“…With peak bone mass as a key stage in skeletal development prior to the onset of the natural process of age associated bone loss, determination of the relationship between birth weight and bone mass in early adulthood is imperative. Although numerous studies have been performed [18,19,[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39], only a limited number involved women around the third decade and these generally employed small sample sizes. Hence the findings of our study enhances current knowledge and supports the idea of invoking preventive measures while parental awareness may be warranted for those with or at risk of lower birth weights.…”

“…Although the mechanism is not fully clear, a possible explanation for these observations is that the periosteal bone envelope may be determined by the growth trajectory which determines skeletal size, which is most closely related to BMC. Within this envelope, BMD develops, modulated primarily by mechanical loading and other environmental factors [18].…”

“…Intrauterine growth restriction, other adverse stimulus in fetal life or preterm birth, reflected in low birth weight and also events immediately after birth, can potentially induce permanent effects on the skeleton [16]. It has been proposed that programming of bone mineral content within the periosteal envelope Springer Callreus et al2013-02-12 15:04 4 (21) occurs during the intrauterine and early postnatal period [17,18]. This is later affected by other modulators contributing to BMD, bone strength and subsequently peak bone mass.…”

Protocol for Systematic Review: Peak Bone Mass Pattern in Different Parts of the World

“…Studies have revealed a considerable diversity in peak bone mass in different societies [12][13][14][15]. Accordingly, because of the importance of osteoporosis and its consequent disabilities and the fact that there is no review studying the pattern of peak bone mass in different countries across the globe, the present systematic review will be conducted.…”