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Bone mass in childhood is related to maternal diet in pregnancy

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Abstract

Evidence that birth weight is related to bone mass in later life suggests that the intrauterine environment programs the trajectory of subsequent bone development. To explore this hypothesis, we examined whether maternal diet in pregnancy, as assessed by the maternal food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) completed at 32 weeks gestation, is related to bone mass of the child, as measured by total body DXA carried out at age 9 years in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Diet records were linked to DXA scan results for the total body and spine sub-region and pooled between pre- and early pubertal boys and girls ( n =4,451). Regression analysis was carried out between DXA values and dietary factors following adjustment for social and other confounding factors. Maternal magnesium intake was related to total body BMC (β=4.9, 7.4–23.1; g) and BMD (β=4.9, 2.5–7.3; g/cm2 ×103) (standardized regression coefficient with 95% confidence limits; P <0.001). An equivalent relationship was no longer observed after adjusting for the height of the child, to which magnesium intake was also related (β=0.48, 0.20–0.77; cm; P =0.001). Maternal intake of potassium was related to spinal BMC (β=1.8, 0.8–2.9; g) and BMD (β=10.5, 4.9–16.0; g/cm2 ×103) ( P =0.001), which was no longer observed after adjusting for the weight of the child, to which potassium intake was also related (β=0.52, 0.16–0.88, P =0.005; kg). A significant association was also observed between maternal dietary folate intake and spinal BMC adjusted for bone area using a linear regression model (β=0.55, 0.16–0.94; g; P =0.006), which persisted after adjusting for height and weight. Our observation that constituents of maternal diet are related to DXA measures at age 9 is consistent with the hypothesis that the trajectory of bone development in childhood is programmed by early life factors.

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Acknowledgements

This project was funded by a project grant from the Wellcome Trust. We are extremely grateful to all the mothers and children who took part and to the midwives for their cooperation and help in recruitment. The whole ALSPAC Study Team comprises interviewers, computer technicians, laboratory technicians, clerical workers, research scientists, volunteers and managers who continue to make the study possible. This study could not have been undertaken without the financial support of the Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust, UK government departments, medical charities and others. The ALSPAC study is part of the WHO-initiated European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Science at South Bristol, Bristol, UK

    J. H. Tobias

  2. ALSPAC, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK

    C. D. Steer, P. M. Emmett, R. J. Tonkin & A. R. Ness

  3. MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

    C. Cooper

  4. Rheumatology Unit, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, BS2 8HW, UK

    J. H. Tobias

Authors
  1. J. H. Tobias
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  2. C. D. Steer
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  3. P. M. Emmett
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  4. R. J. Tonkin
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  5. C. Cooper
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  6. A. R. Ness
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Correspondence to J. H. Tobias.

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This article was written by the authors and the ALSPAC study team.

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Tobias, J.H., Steer, C.D., Emmett, P.M. et al. Bone mass in childhood is related to maternal diet in pregnancy. Osteoporos Int 16, 1731–1741 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-005-1912-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-005-1912-6

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