Growth in infancy and bone mass in later life

The authors examined the relation between weight gain in infancy and bone mass later on in life. They studied 189 women and 224 men who were aged 63-73 years and were born in Hertfordshire. The subjects underwent bone densitometry. Several biochemical markers of bone turnover were measured. There were statistically significant associations between weight at one year and bone mineral content (but not bone mineral density) at the spine and femoral neck among women and at spine among men. Infant weight was not significantly associated with different chemical markers of bone turnover. The authors conclude that growth in infancy is associated with skeletal size in adulthood and suggest that skeletal growth may be programmed during intrauterine and early post natal life.