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Decreased bone mineral density in adults born with very low birth weight: a cohort study

Petteri Hovi1, Sture Andersson, Anna-Liisa Järvenpää

  • 1Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. petteri.hovi@helsinki.fi

Plos Medicine
|August 27, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Adults born with very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) have lower bone mineral density (BMD) in young adulthood. This suggests VLBW increases the risk of osteoporosis later in life, requiring early prevention strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Orthopedics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants experience impaired bone mass accrual during childhood.
  • It remains unclear if this leads to reduced peak bone mass and skeletal health issues in adulthood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between VLBW and bone mineral density (BMD) in adulthood.
  • To determine if childhood bone mass deficits in VLBW individuals persist into young adulthood.

Main Methods:

  • The Helsinki Study of Very Low Birth Weight Adults cohort included 144 VLBW individuals and 139 term-born controls.
  • Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in young adulthood (18.5–27.1 years).
  • Statistical analyses adjusted for height and exercise intensity.

Main Results:

  • Adults born with VLBW exhibited significantly lower lumbar spine and femoral neck areal BMD Z scores compared to term-born peers.
  • These differences persisted even after adjusting for height and self-reported exercise intensity.
  • The findings indicate a lasting impact of VLBW on skeletal health.

Conclusions:

  • Young adults born with VLBW have significantly reduced BMD near the age of peak bone mass.
  • Compromised childhood bone accrual in VLBW individuals translates to an increased risk of adult osteoporosis.
  • Vigilance in osteoporosis prevention is recommended for individuals born with VLBW.
Abstract

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