Does fetal smoke exposure affect childhood bone mass? The Generation R Study
D H M Heppe1, C Medina-Gomez, A Hofman
1The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center, Room Ae-012, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Summary
Maternal smoking during pregnancy was linked to higher childhood bone mass, but this effect appears mediated by increased body weight, not direct fetal programming. Lifestyle factors may influence weight gain more than skeletal development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric bone health
- Maternal health
- Environmental influences on child development
Background:
- Maternal smoking during pregnancy is a concern for long-term bone health.
- Investigating fetal programming versus familial confounding in the maternal smoking-bone health link.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess intrauterine effects of maternal smoking on childhood bone mass.
- To differentiate between fetal programming and familial factors in observed associations.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 5565 mother-father-child triads.
- Assessed parental smoking habits (prenatal, postnatal) and household smoking.
- Measured total body bone mineral content (BMC), bone area (BA), and bone mineral density (BMD) using DXA in children at median age 6.0 years.
Main Results:
- Maternal smoking during pregnancy associated with higher child BMC, BA, and BMD.
- Childhood body weight mediated the association between maternal smoking and bone measures.
- Paternal smoking and household smoking during childhood showed no clear associations with bone measures.
Conclusions:
- Findings do not support intrauterine mechanisms of fetal smoke exposure impacting childhood bone mass.
- Maternal smoking or associated lifestyle factors may influence childhood weight gain rather than direct skeletal growth.
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