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Differential relationships between parent-child DXA and pQCT bone measures: Results from the Southampton Women's
C R Holroyd1, S Carter2, S R Crozier2
1MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; Rheumatology Department, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
Insights
Childhood bone health is linked to parental bone health, with stronger associations observed between mothers and their children than fathers and their children. These findings suggest potential in utero influences or genetic factors affecting bone development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric bone health
- Human genetics
- Reproductive health
Background:
- Bone health in childhood is crucial for lifelong skeletal integrity.
- Parental factors, including genetics and environment, may influence offspring bone development.
- Understanding these associations can inform early life interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations between childhood bone health indices and parental bone health measures.
- To compare the strength of mother-offspring versus father-offspring bone health associations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Southampton Women's Survey, including parent-offspring trios.
- Employed dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) to assess bone parameters.
- Applied multivariable linear regression to analyze associations, adjusting for relevant covariates.
Main Results:
- Positive associations were found between parental and offspring bone area (BA), bone mineral content (BMC), and areal bone mineral density (aBMD).
- Mother-offspring associations were generally stronger than father-offspring associations for most bone measures.
- Specific associations varied by bone site and measurement technique, with some measures showing stronger paternal links.
Conclusions:
- Offspring bone health is independently associated with both parents' bone health.
- Maternal influence on offspring bone health appears more pronounced, potentially due to in utero effects or genetic/epigenetic factors.
- Findings highlight the complex interplay of parental factors in shaping childhood skeletal development.
Aim:
To investigate the associations between indices of bone health in childhood and corresponding parental measures.
Methods:
The Southampton Women's Survey characterised 12,583 non-pregnant women aged 20-34 years; 3158 subsequently had singleton live births. In a subset, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurements of bone area (BA), bone mineral content (BMC) and areal bone mineral density (aBMD) lumbar spine and total hip were obtained in the parent/offspring (aged 8-9 years) trios. Another subset of children (aged 6-7 years), and their parents, had peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT; 4% and 38% tibia) measures. Using multivariable linear regression we examined relationships between mother/father and offspring, adjusting for parental age, habitual walking speed and education; offspring age and sex; and the corresponding bone measure in the other parent (β-coefficients (95%CI) unit/unit for each bone measure).
Results:
Data were available for 260 trios with DXA and 99 with pQCT. There were positive associations for BA, BMC and aBMD between either parent and offspring. Mother-child associations were of greater magnitude than father-child; for example, mother-child aBMD (β = 0.26 g·cm-2/g·cm-2 (0.21,0.32)) and father-child aBMD (β = 0.16 g·cm-2/g·cm-2 (0.11,0.21)), P-difference in β = 0.007. In the subset with pQCT there was a positive association for mother-offspring 4% tibial total area (β = 0.33 mm2/mm2 (0.17,0.48)), but little evidence of a father-offspring association (β = -0.06 mm2/mm2 (-0.17,0.06)). In contrast offspring 38% cortical density was more strongly associated with this measure in fathers (β = 0.48 mg·cm-3/mg·cm-3 (0.15,0.82)) than mothers (β = 0.27 mg·cm-3/mg·cm-3 (-0.03,0.56)). In general mother-father differences were attenuated by adjustment for height.
Conclusions:
Whilst offspring bone measures are independently associated with those of either parent, the magnitude of the association is often greater for maternal than paternal relationships. These findings are consistent with an in utero influence on offspring growth but might also reflect genetic and/or epigenetic parent of origin effects.
Summary:
In an established parent-offspring cohort, associations between parent and offspring bone indices were generally greater in magnitude for mother-offspring than father-offspring relationships.
