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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Assessing Bone and Adipose Tissue Biomarkers in 5-6-Year-Old Polish Children Adhering to Vegetarian and Traditional
Jadwiga Ambroszkiewicz1, Joanna Gajewska1, Joanna Mazur2
1Department of Screening Tests and Metabolic Diagnostics, Institute of Mother and Child, Kasprzaka 17a, 01-211 Warsaw, Poland.
Insights
Lacto-ovo-vegetarian diets in young children support normal bone mass but may alter bone metabolism and adipokine profiles, suggesting careful dietary planning is needed.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Bone Metabolism
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Increasing adoption of plant-based diets among families with young children.
- Limited understanding of their impact on early childhood bone development and metabolic regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate body composition, bone mineral density (BMD), bone turnover markers, and adipokine profiles in children aged 5-6 years on lacto-ovo-vegetarian versus omnivorous diets.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of 90 healthy children (lacto-ovo-vegetarian or omnivorous diets).
- Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for body composition and BMD.
- ELISA for bone turnover markers and adipokines.
- Correlation analyses between anthropometric, bone, and adipokine parameters.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in anthropometrics, bone mineral content (BMC), or BMD between groups.
- Vegetarian children showed higher bone turnover markers (BALP, CTX-I) and altered osteocalcin ratios.
- Vegetarian children had lower high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin levels and ratios.
- Distinct correlations: vegetarian children's bone parameters linked to lean mass; omnivorous children's bone indices linked to adipokines.
Conclusions:
- Balanced lacto-ovo-vegetarian diets support normal bone mass in early childhood.
- Potential for subtle alterations in bone metabolism and adipokine regulation.
- Highlights the need for dietary planning and longitudinal studies on long-term bone health.
Background/Objectives:
Plant-based diets are increasingly adopted by families with young children, yet their potential effects on bone development and metabolic regulation during early childhood remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to evaluate body composition, bone mineral density (BMD), biochemical markers of bone turnover, and adipokine profiles in healthy children aged 5-6 years adhering to lacto-ovo-vegetarian or omnivorous diets.
Methods:
A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in a well-characterized cohort of 90 healthy normal-weight children consuming either lacto-ovo-vegetarian or omnivorous diets. Body composition and bone mineral density were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and circulating markers of bone formation, resorption, and adipokines were determined using ELISA methods. Correlation analyses were performed to examine the relationships between anthropometric variables, bone parameters, and adipokines.
Results:
No significant differences were observed between vegetarian and omnivorous diets in anthropometric characteristics, bone mineral content (BMC), or BMD, indicating comparable skeletal status. However, vegetarian children exhibited significantly higher levels of bone turnover markers, including bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) (p = 0.023) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) (p = 0.035), and a lower osteocalcin OC/CTX-I ratio (p = 0.027). These findings may suggest a subtle imbalance in bone remodeling dynamics in these children, although their clinical significance remains uncertain. Additionally, higher levels of carboxylated osteocalcin (Gla-OC) (p = 0.022) and an increased carboxylated to undercarboxylated OC (Gla-OC/Glu-OC) ratio (p = 0.005) were observed in vegetarian children. Among adipokines, vegetarian children showed lower HMW adiponectin levels (p = 0.05) and a lower HMW/total adiponectin ratio (p = 0.012). Correlation analyses revealed distinct metabolic patterns between groups. In vegetarian children, bone parameters were primarily associated with lean mass, indicating the predominant role of mechanical factors in skeletal development. In contrast, omnivorous children demonstrated a more integrated relationship between bone indices and adipokines.
Conclusions:
In conclusion, while a lacto-ovo-vegetarian balanced diet supports normal bone mass in early childhood, it may be associated with subtle alterations in bone metabolism and its regulatory pathways, including adipokine profiles. These findings highlight the importance of adequate dietary planning and underscore the need for longitudinal studies to determine long-term effects on bone status.
