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Published on: January 29, 2018
Growth and bone mineralization in children born prematurely
G M Chan1, C Armstrong, L Moyer-Mileur
1Division of Foods and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah Health Science Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84158, USA. gchan@hsc.utah.edu
Insights
Children born prematurely (birth weight < 1.5 kg) often exhibit reduced growth and lower bone mineralization, specifically in the lumbar spine, compared to full-term infants. These findings highlight potential long-term health implications for preterm growth and bone development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Neonatalogy
- Pediatric Bone Health
Background:
- Premature birth, particularly with low birth weight (< 1.5 kg), can impact long-term child development.
- Assessing growth and bone mineralization in these children is crucial for understanding potential health risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the growth patterns of children born prematurely.
- To compare the bone mineralization status of preterm infants with that of children born at term gestation.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of preterm children (birth weight < 1.5 kg) was compared to a national reference for growth (weight, height).
- Bone mineral status (lumbar spine, distal radius) was assessed in preterm children and compared to term-born children via dual-site evaluation.
- Dietary intake and food frequency questionnaires were analyzed for both groups.
Main Results:
- Preterm children, followed for an average of 7 years, showed significantly lower weight, height, and BMI compared to the reference population.
- Lumbar bone mineral content and density were significantly lower in preterm children (12.8+/-3.0 g cm(-1), 0.525+/-0.062 g cm(-2)) than in term-born children (14.7+/-2.2 g cm(-1), 0.574+/-0.073 g cm(-2)).
- Three preterm children reported a history of fractures, while no term-born children reported fractures.
Conclusions:
- Children born prematurely with very low birth weight (< 1.5 kg) tend to be smaller for their age.
- These children exhibit significantly reduced lumbar spinal bone mineral content and density compared to their term-born peers.
Objective:
To study the growth and bone mineralization of children born prematurely.
Study Design:
A cohort of healthy children who were born prematurely with birth weight less than 1.5 kg were compared by weight and height to a national reference. Bone mineral status of preterm infants was compared with children who were born at term gestation. The average follow-up was 7 years. A sample of children who were born prematurely was recalled from an infant nutrition study. Children born at term gestation who had similar body weight for age were recruited from the community. Bone mineral evaluation was conducted in a group of 20 children born prematurely with birth weight less than 1.5 kg and in 15 children born at term gestation. Body weight for age was similar between the groups. All children were born of appropriate size for gestational age at birth. All children had their body weight and height measured. Comparisons for growth assessment status were made with the NHANES III database and published standards. Dietary intakes and food frequency were analyzed. The bone mineral status was measured at two sites, lumbar spine and distal third radius bone.
Results:
The average age was 7 years, with a range of 5 to 9 years. Compared with the reference population, children who were born prematurely on the average had lower weights, heights and body mass index. Preterm children had a lower lumbar bone mineral content than term children, 12.8+/-3.0 and 14.7+/-2.2 g cm(-1) (P<0.05). The lumbar bone mineral density was lower in the preterm group than in the term group, 0.525+/-0.062 and 0.574+/-0.073 g cm(-2), respectively (P<0.04). Three of the preterm children had a history of fracture whereas none of the term children reported any fractures.
Conclusion:
Children who were born prematurely with birth weights less than 1.5 kg tend to be significantly smaller for age and have lower lumbar spinal bone mineral content and density compared with children born at term gestation.
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