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The Developmental Origins of Osteoporosis

Claire L Wood1, Charlotte Stenson2, Nicholas Embleton1

  • 1Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK;; Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

Current Genomics
|March 29, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Osteoporosis risk is influenced by early life factors. Prevention strategies throughout life are crucial for mitigating this prevalent skeletal disorder and its fracture complications.

Area of Science:

  • Bone health and skeletal disorders.
  • Public health and epidemiology.
  • Developmental biology and epigenetics.

Background:

  • Osteoporosis is a widespread skeletal disorder with significant public health implications due to fractures.
  • Fractures associated with osteoporosis lead to considerable morbidity and mortality.
  • Understanding the origins of osteoporosis is key to effective prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss the developmental origins of osteoporosis.
  • To outline risk factors contributing to osteoporosis from intrauterine and postnatal life.
  • To highlight the role of epigenetics in osteoporosis development.

Main Methods:

  • Review of evidence on birth size and early growth effects in infants.
  • Discussion of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors.
  • Exploration of the programming hypothesis and epigenetics.

Main Results:

  • Early life factors, including birth size and growth, impact later osteoporosis risk.
  • Both intrauterine and postnatal environments contribute to osteoporosis development.
  • Epigenetic mechanisms play a role in programming osteoporosis risk.

Conclusions:

  • Osteoporosis has clear developmental origins.
  • Prevention efforts should encompass all life stages.
  • Addressing early life factors is vital for long-term bone health.

Keywords:
Bone mineral densityLife courseOsteoporosis.Programming

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