Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease

Table of Contents - 2010 - Volume 1, Issue 01  

Cambridge Journals Online - CUP Full-Text Page
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (2010), 1:35-41 Cambridge University Press
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2009
doi:10.1017/S2040174409990055

Original Article

Maternal predictors of neonatal bone size and geometry: the Southampton Women’s Survey

N. C. Harveya1, M. K. Javaida1, N. K. Ardena1, J. R. Poolea1, S. R. Croziera1, S. M. Robinsona1, H. M. Inskipa1, K. M. Godfreya1, E. M. Dennisona1 p1, C. Coopera1 and the SWS Study Team**

a1 MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre, Southampton General Hospital, University of Southampton, School of Medicine, Southampton, UK
Article author query
harvey nc [Google Scholar]
javaid mk [Google Scholar]
arden nk [Google Scholar]
poole jr [Google Scholar]
crozier sr [Google Scholar]
robinson sm [Google Scholar]
inskip hm [Google Scholar]
godfrey km [Google Scholar]
dennison em [Google Scholar]
cooper c [Google Scholar]

Abstract

Early growth is associated with later risk of osteoporosis and fractures. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationships between maternal lifestyle and body composition and neonatal bone size, geometry and density in the offspring. Participants were recruited from the Southampton Women’s Survey, a unique prospective cohort of 12,500 initially non-pregnant women aged 20–34 years, resident in Southampton, UK. These women were studied in detail before and during pregnancy, and the offspring underwent anthropometric and bone mineral assessment (using dual energy-X-ray absorptiometry) at birth. A total of 841 mother–baby pairs were studied (443 boys and 398 girls). The independent predictors of greater neonatal whole body bone area (BA) and bone mineral content included greater maternal birthweight, height, parity, triceps skinfold thickness and lower walking speed in late pregnancy. Maternal smoking was independently associated with lower neonatal bone mass. Neonatal BA adjusted for birth length (a measure of bone width) was predicted positively by maternal parity and late pregnancy triceps skinfold thickness and negatively by late pregnancy walking speed. These findings were similar in both genders. We have confirmed, in a large cohort, previous findings that maternal lifestyle and body build predict neonatal bone mineral; additionally, maternal parity and fat stores and walking speed in late pregnancy were associated with neonatal bone geometry. These findings may suggest novel public health strategies to reduce the burden of osteoporotic fracture in future generations.

(Received June 19 2009)

(Revised September 24 2009)

(Accepted October 01 2009)

(Online publication November 02 2009)

Key wordsdevelopmental origins, epidemiology, geometry; osteoporosis, programming.

Correspondence:

p1 Address for correspondence: Dr E. M. Dennison, MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre, Southampton General Hospital, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK. (Email emd@mrc.soton.ac.uk)

Footnotes

** SWS Study Team: P. Taylor, M. Hanson, D. J. P. Barker and C. M. Law

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