Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 23, 2026
Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
Published on: June 28, 2024
Maternal vitamin D and offspring trabecular bone score
N K Hyde1, S L Brennan-Olsen2,3,4, J D Wark5
1Epi-Centre for Healthy Ageing, IMPACT SRC, School of Medicine, Deakin University (Barwon Health), PO Box 281, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia. nhyde@barwonhealth.org.au.
Insights
Maternal vitamin D levels in early pregnancy are linked to offspring bone health in boys. This study suggests a connection between maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D and trabecular bone score in male children.
Area of Science:
- Bone microarchitecture research
- Maternal-fetal health studies
- Vitamin D metabolism and skeletal development
Background:
- Trabecular bone score (TBS) assesses vertebral microarchitecture using DXA, predicting fractures independently of bone mineral density.
- Previous research linked maternal vitamin D to offspring bone mineral content at age 11.
- The association between maternal vitamin D and offspring TBS has not been previously investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the association between maternal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels during pregnancy and offspring trabecular bone score (TBS) at age 11.
- To explore potential sex-specific differences in this association.
Main Methods:
- Data from the Vitamin D in Pregnancy (VIP) study were analyzed.
- Maternal 25(OH)D was measured via radioimmunoassay in early and late pregnancy.
- Offspring underwent spine DXA at age 11, with TBS calculated using specialized software.
Main Results:
- Higher maternal 25(OH)D levels (≥50 nmol/L) at recruitment were associated with higher offspring TBS (p=0.04).
- A 10 nmol/L increase in maternal 25(OH)D was linked to a 0.005 increase in offspring TBS (p=0.04), particularly in boys.
- No significant association was found between maternal 25(OH)D in late pregnancy and offspring TBS.
Conclusions:
- Maternal 25(OH)D in early pregnancy may be associated with offspring TBS at age 11, specifically in boys.
- These findings are hypothesis-generating and require confirmation in larger studies.
- Further research should focus on interventional and long-term follow-up studies to validate these results.
Abstract:
No studies have explored the relationship with maternal vitamin D (25(OH)D) in pregnancy and offspring trabecular bone score (TBS). Our data suggest that maternal 25(OH)D in early pregnancy, but not late, may be associated with offspring TBS in boys. These data act as hypothesis-generating findings for confirmation in larger, longer-term studies.
Introduction:
Trabecular bone score (TBS), a novel tool derived from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), reflects the microarchitecture of the vertebrae. It has been shown to predict fracture independent of standard DXA parameters in adult populations. Previously, we demonstrated that maternal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) during pregnancy is associated with offspring bone mineral content at age 11 years. However, associations with TBS have not been explored, thus we aimed to determine associations between maternal 25(OH)D and offspring TBS.
Methods:
Data were collected from the Vitamin D in Pregnancy (VIP) study. Venous blood samples were taken at recruitment and at 28-32 weeks' gestation. Maternal 25(OH)D was measured by radioimmunoassay. Offspring (n = 195, n = 181 with complete measures) underwent spine DXA (GE Lunar), at age 11 years (median = 10.9 (IQR 10.9-11.4)). TBS was calculated using TBS iNsight software.
Results:
Offspring of mothers with sufficient 25(OH)D levels (≥50 nmol/L) at recruitment had a higher TBS (1.363 vs. 1.340, p = 0.04). In multivariable linear regression models, after adjustment for child relative lean mass, sex and pubertal stage, a 10 nmol/L increase in maternal 25(OH)D was associated with a 0.005 (95% CI 0.000, 0.010, p = 0.04) increase in TBS. However when stratified by sex (p for interaction = 0.16), the association was significant in boys, but not girls. There were no associations with TBS and maternal 25(OH)D at 28-32 weeks.
Conclusions:
We speculate that maternal 25(OH)D in early pregnancy may be associated with TBS in offspring at age 11 in boys. These hypothesis-generating findings warrant confirmation with larger interventional and long-term follow-up studies.
More Related Videos
04:24Proper Positioning and Restraint of a Rat Hind Limb for Focused High Resolution Imaging of Bone Micro-architecture Using In Vivo Micro-computed Tomography
Published on: November 22, 2017
06:47Isolation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Alveolar Periosteum and Effects of Vitamin D on Osteogenic Activity of Periosteum-derived Cells
Published on: May 4, 2018
Related Concept Videos
01:25Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is involved in the process of bone remodeling. Retinoic acid, the active metabolite of Vitamin A, has nuclear receptors in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are involved in bone remodeling.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 acts as a cofactor during the formation of osteoblast-related proteins, such as osteocalcin. Vitamin B12 plays a role...
01:23Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin...
01:17Hormones and Bone Tissue
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...
01:29Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
01:07Teratogenicity
01:31Essential Minerals for Bone Health
Calcium and Phosphorus
Calcium is a critical component of bones, especially in the form of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Since the body cannot make calcium, it must be obtained from the diet. However, calcium cannot be absorbed from the small intestine without...