The association between maternal diet during pregnancy and bone mass of the children at age 16

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Fetal life may be a critical period for the development and/or programming of metabolic systems, including the skeleton. However, it is unclear on the association between maternal nutrition during pregnancy and bone mass in their offspring at adolescence. Subjects/Methods: This was a birth cohort study of 216 adolescents (16.2 ± 0.4 years). Dietary intake was measured by food frequency questionnaire. Bone densitometry was measured at the femoral neck, lumbar spine and total body by DXA. Results: After adjustment for confounders, bone mineral density (BMD) of the femoral neck was positively associated with magnesium density and negatively associated with fat density (all P-values o0.05). BMD of the lumbar spine was positively associated with calcium, magnesium and phosphorus density and negatively associated with fat density (all P-values o0.05). Maternal milk intake was significantly positively associated with lumbar spine BMD. After considering all significant nutrients in the same model, fat density remained significant negatively for the femoral neck and lumbar spine, whereas magnesium density remained significant positively for the femoral neck. No nutrient was significant for the total body. Conclusions: Maternal intake of milk, fat and magnesium during the third trimester of pregnancy is predictive of BMD at age 16, suggesting that in utero diet influences peak bone mass possibly through programming bone responses.

Maternal diet, breastfeeding and adolescent body composition: a 16-year prospective study

“…We previously reported association between maternal diet during pregnancy, breastfeeding and bone mineral density of offspring at 8 and 16 years. [11][12][13] Therefore, the aim of this study was to use a birth cohort study to investigate the associations between maternal diet during the third trimester of pregnancy, breastfeeding and subsequent long-term body composition of offspring at 16 year.…”

Nutritional status as assessed by nutrient intakes and biomarkers among women of childbearing age – is the burden of nutrient inadequacies growing in America?

“…Carmichael and co-workers showed that adequate periconception intakes of folate, vitamin B 12 , vitamin B 6 and riboflavin were associated with decreased risk of neural tube defects among Californian women (7) . Zhang's group showed that Chinese women of childbearing age with inadequate micronutrient status had a higher risk of birth defects (3) , and Yin and colleagues showed that maternal intake of Mg during the third trimester of pregnancy was predictive of bone mineral density at age 16 years (8) . Moreover, in populations where Fe deficiency is prevalent, children born to women receiving micronutrient supplementation score better in tests of intellectual function, e.g.…”

Calcium and Other Nutrients During Growth

“…LS BMD was also positively associated with maternal milk intake, calcium, and phosphorus density. With all signifi cant nutrients in the same model, fat density remained negatively associated for the FN and LS, whereas magnesium density remained positively associated for the FN [50] . In another cohort [47] , maternal magnesium intake at 32 weeks gestation was positively associated with TB BMC and BMD at age 9 years until adjusted for the child ' s height.…”