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...

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...

Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) is a bone derived phosphate-regulating hormone which is elevated in hypophosphataemic rickets. Recent findings demonstrate iron deficiency as a potential mediator of FGF23 expression and murine studies have shown in utero effects of maternal iron deficiency leading to increased FGF23 concentration and disordered bone development (Clinkenbeard. JBMR 2013). Children with rickets in rural Gambia, West Africa, have high prevalences of i...