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Updated: Mar 23, 2026
06:43
High Frequency Ultrasound for the Analysis of Fetal and Placental Development In Vivo
Published on: November 8, 2018
11.1K
Placental Size Is Associated Differentially With Postnatal Bone Size and Density
Christopher R Holroyd1, Clive Osmond1, David Jp Barker1
1MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
Summary
Larger placental size in pregnancy is linked to greater bone size and density in adolescents. These associations between placental size and offspring bone development persist into puberty.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Pediatric bone health
- Developmental origins of health and disease
Background:
- Placental size is a key indicator of fetal growth and development.
- Early life factors, including placental development, can influence long-term health outcomes.
- Understanding these early influences is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between placental size and adolescent bone indices.
- To determine if associations between placental size and bone development persist into puberty.
- To examine how placental size relates to different aspects of bone structure and density.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort.
- Included 518 children with complete placental, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) data.
- Analyzed placental area and volume against bone area, mineral content, density, and dimensions at age 15.5 years, with adjustments for covariates.
Main Results:
- Placental area was positively associated with endosteal circumference, periosteal circumference, and cortical area.
- Placental size was negatively associated with cortical bone density.
- Similar associations were observed for placental volume, indicating a persistent link to bone development.
Conclusions:
- Placental size is significantly associated with adolescent bone size and volumetric density.
- These findings highlight the lasting impact of placental development on offspring skeletal health through puberty.
- Placental size differentially influences bone size versus bone density, suggesting distinct developmental pathways.
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