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Genetics of pediatric bone strength
Jonathan A Mitchell1, Diana L Cousminer2, Babette S Zemel1
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Bonekey Reports
|September 1, 2016
Summary
Optimizing peak bone mass during childhood and adolescence is key to preventing osteoporosis. Genetic studies show that genes influencing bone mineral density in adults also play a role during growth.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Bone Biology
- Public Health
Background:
- Osteoporosis is a significant cause of disability in postmenopausal women globally.
- Bone fragility is closely linked to bone mineral density (BMD).
- Optimizing peak bone mass during growth is crucial for osteoporosis prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic factors influencing bone mineral density (BMD) in children and adolescents.
- To determine if genetic loci associated with adult osteoporosis also affect BMD during growth.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in pediatric populations.
- Comparing genetic findings in pediatric BMD with known adult osteoporosis-related loci.
Main Results:
- Genome-wide association studies have identified significant genetic signals affecting BMD in both adults and children.
- Many genetic regions (loci) influencing adult BMD are also active during childhood and adolescent growth.
Conclusions:
- Genetic factors play a critical role in determining bone mineral density throughout life.
- Understanding pediatric BMD genetics can inform future osteoporosis prevention strategies.
- These findings have the potential to impact public health by guiding early interventions.
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