Bone Abstracts

Objective: We have observed sex-specific effects of pregnancy calcium carbonate supplementation in 8–12 year old Gambian children, indicating slower growth after infancy in girls born to calcium-supplemented mothers but faster in boys.1,2 IGF-1 is a key driver of growth and is responsive to calcium supplementation.3 The aim of this study was to determine whether the pregnancy supplement had resulted in sex-specific effects on mid-childhood IGF1 of th...

Skeletal development during childhood and adolescence is an important determinant of adult bone health. Patterns of growth differ between populations, but it is unclear how these differences relate to changes in bone size and volumetric density. We aimed to examine ethnic differences in skeletal phenotype in the context of pubertal growth and development in 279 adolescent males from Johannesburg, South Africa.We performed annual peripheral quantitative c...

Puberty is a time for the development of sexual dimorphism in bone and muscle. The aim of this study was to compare sex differences in bone and muscle variables using high-resolution peripheral QCT (HR-pQCT) and jumping mechanography (JM) in children and adolescents. We hypothesised that sex differences to muscle force and power (Fmax and Pmax) may explain differences in bone strength.Total cross-sectional area and density (Tt.CSA and D100), cortical bon...

There is wide variation in the dose-response to oral vitamin D and the increment in plasma 25(OH)D decreases per unit vitamin D given. We hypothesised that this is related to increased 25(OH)D catabolism as reflected in 25OHD half-life (25(OH)D3 t1/2).Design: 25(OH)D3 t1/2 was measured with a stable isotope (SI) technique in older (70y+) men and women in the UK during winter before (<...

We have previously observed sex-specific effects of maternal calcium supplementation on offspring childhood growth, in a rural Gambian population with habitually low calcium intake (~300 mg daily).1,2 There was no effect on maternal blood pressure, the primary outcome of the original trial.3 In this study, we aim to investigate effects on offspring blood pressure (BP) in the same cohort. We recruited children (205 female, 182 male) born following a random...

We have previously reported sex-specific effects of prepubertal calcium supplementation on the timing of adolescent growth,1 as well as sex-specific effects of maternal calcium supplementation on offspring childhood growth,2,3 in a rural Gambian population with habitually low calcium intake (~300 mg daily). In this study, we aim to investigate longer-term effects of maternal calcium supplementation on adolescent growth in same cohort. We recruited childre...

To understand differences in bone health between and within populations, it is crucial to characterise bone development during childhood and adolescence. Peak height velocity at age 16 and young adult height at age 23.5 years were recently reported in Gambian males accustomed to low calcium intake1. Our study aims to describe bone accrual after peak height velocity in the same population.We used peripheral quantitative computed tomography to m...

In rural Gambian prepubertal children with low calcium intakes (mean 300 mg/day) we reported positive effects, sustained for at least a year (y), on bone mineral content (BMC) after 12 months supplementation with calcium carbonate to international levels1,2. The group was followed up regularly until the end of height growth, and supplementation did not affect height growth in the girls3. Our aim was to determine whether the supplementation altered the tim...

Cystic fibrosis(CF) results in low volumetric bone mineral density(vBMD), poor muscle strength and increased fracture risk in young patients. The aim of this study was to compare bone and muscle variables measured by peripheral and high-resolution QCT (pQCT and HR-pQCT) and jumping mechanography (JM) In CF children and healthy controls. We hypothesised that CF children have lower muscle force and power (Fmax and Pmax) than controls which may contribute to CF-related bone disea...

Cases of non-vitamin D deficiency rickets have been reported in African countries including The Gambia, South Africa and Nigeria where the likely aetiology is a chronically low dietary calcium intake. Additional aetiological factors in Gambian studies are iron deficiency leading to a disruption in phosphate metabolism.Surgical correction of pathological rickets-like lower-limb deformities is the most common operation performed at the Beit Cure Orthopaedi...