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Are birth characteristics related to bone quality measures in young adults? The HUNT study, Norway
H T Holltrø1,2, T I L Nilsen3,4, B Schei3,5
1Dept. of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway.
Insights
Higher birth weight and length are linked to better bone strength in young adults. These early life factors influence bone geometry and strength, independent of bone mineral density.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Early life conditions significantly impact long-term health.
- Birth characteristics like weight and length are potential early markers for skeletal development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between birth characteristics and bone quality indicators.
- To determine how birth weight and length relate to bone strength and geometry in young adults.
Main Methods:
- Population-based study of 2,680 young adults (aged 20-54 years).
- Utilized dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for bone quality assessment.
- Linked birth data with DXA measurements, adjusting for relevant covariates.
Main Results:
- Higher birth weight and length positively correlated with bone strength measures (cross-sectional area and moment of inertia).
- Associations with buckling ratio and hip axis length were less consistent.
- These relationships persisted even after adjusting for bone mineral density.
Conclusions:
- Birth characteristics are significant predictors of bone strength and geometry in young adulthood.
- DXA-derived bone quality measures offer valuable insights into skeletal health beyond bone mineral density.
- Early life factors play a crucial role in establishing adult bone structure.
Abstract:
This population-based study investigated the association between birth characteristics and DXA-derived bone quality in 2,680 young adults (aged 20-54 years). Higher birth weight and length were positively associated with bone strength measures, while associations with buckling ratio and hip axis length were weaker and less consistent.
Purpose:
To investigate the association between birth characteristics and bone quality indicators from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in young adults.
Methods:
This population-based study included 2,680 participants (60% women), aged 20-54 years, from the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT3 and HUNT4), linked with birth data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. Birth characteristics included birth weight, birth length, and birth weight relative to gestational age and sex (categorized as small, appropriate, or large for gestational age). Linear regressions assessed associations with bone quality measures, including cross-sectional area, cross-sectional moment of inertia, buckling ratio, and hip axis length. Analyses were adjusted for sex, birth year, age at DXA scan, gestational length, and adult height (for buckling ratio and hip axis length). Additional analyses included bone mineral density (BMD) to assess direct effects.
Results:
Higher birth weight and length were positively associated with cross-sectional area and cross-sectional moment of inertia. For each SD increase in birth weight and length, CSA increased by 4.33 and 4.29 mm2, and CSMI by 0.74 and 0.45 mm4, respectively. After BMD adjustment, these associations were attenuated for both birth weight (CSA: 1.90 mm2; CSMI: 0.55 mm4), and birth length (CSA: 2.13 mm2; CSMI: 0.58 mm4). Buckling ratio and hip axis length showed weaker and less consistent associations with birth characteristics, but the association of birth weight and small for gestational age with buckling ratio was somewhat strengthened after adjustment for BMD.
Conclusion:
Birth characteristics are associated with both bone strength and geometry in young adulthood. These associations are partly independent of BMD, highlighting the value of DXA-derived bone quality measures in assessing skeletal health.
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