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Archives of Osteoporosis
Published in: Archives of Osteoporosis 1/2017

01-12-2017 | Original Article

The influence of birth weight and length on bone mineral density and content in adolescence: The Tromsø Study, Fit Futures

Authors: Tore Christoffersen, Luai A. Ahmed, Anne Kjersti Daltveit, Elaine M. Dennison, Elin K. Evensen, Anne-Sofie Furberg, Luis Gracia-Marco, Guri Grimnes, Ole-Andreas Nilsen, Berit Schei, Grethe S. Tell, Dimitris Vlachopoulos, Anne Winther, Nina Emaus

Published in: Archives of Osteoporosis | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Summary

The influence of birth weight and length on bone mineral parameters in adolescence is unclear. We found a positive association between birth size and bone mineral content, attenuated by lifestyle factors. This highlights the impact of environmental stimuli and lifestyle during growth.

Purpose

The influence of birth weight and length on bone mineral density and content later in life is unclear, especially in adolescence. This study evaluated the impact of birth weight and length on bone mineral density and content among adolescents.

Methods

We included 961 participants from the population-based Fit Futures study (2010–2011). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to measure bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) at femoral neck (FN), total hip (TH) and total body (TB). BMD and BMC measures were linked with birth weight and length ascertained from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. Linear regression models were used to investigate the influence of birth parameters on BMD and BMC.

Results

Birth weight was positively associated with BMD-TB and BMC at all sites among girls; standardized β coefficients [95% CI] were 0.11 [0.01, 0.20] for BMD-TB and 0.15 [0.06, 0.24], 0.18 [0.09, 0.28] and 0.29 [0.20, 0.38] for BMC-FN, TH and TB, respectively. In boys, birth weight was positively associated with BMC at all sites with estimates of 0.10 [0.01, 0.19], 0.12 [0.03, 0.21] and 0.15 [0.07, 0.24] for FN, TH and TB, respectively. Corresponding analyses using birth length as exposure gave significantly positive associations with BMC at all sites in both sexes. The significant positive association between birth weight and BMC-TB in girls, and birth length and BMC-TB in boys remained after multivariable adjustment.

Conclusions

We found a positive association between birth size and BMC in adolescence. However, this association was attenuated after adjustment for weight, height and physical activity during adolescence.
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Metadata
Title
The influence of birth weight and length on bone mineral density and content in adolescence: The Tromsø Study, Fit Futures
Authors
Tore Christoffersen
Luai A. Ahmed
Anne Kjersti Daltveit
Elaine M. Dennison
Elin K. Evensen
Anne-Sofie Furberg
Luis Gracia-Marco
Guri Grimnes
Ole-Andreas Nilsen
Berit Schei
Grethe S. Tell
Dimitris Vlachopoulos
Anne Winther
Nina Emaus
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
Springer London
Published in
Archives of Osteoporosis / Issue 1/2017
Print ISSN: 1862-3522
Electronic ISSN: 1862-3514
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11657-017-0348-x

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