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Gestational Vitamin D and Offspring Bone Measures: Is the Association Independent of Maternal Bone Quality?

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Abstract

Previously we have reported an association between maternal vitamin D and offspring bone as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. It is plausible that shared genetics might confound associations between maternal vitamin D in pregnancy and offspring bone measures. We aimed to determine whether such associations are independent of maternal bone quality. Data for this analysis were derived from 168 mother–child pairs who returned at the 11-year follow-up of the vitamin D in pregnancy study. Gestational 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was assessed by radioimmunoassay in early pregnancy at recruitment (before 16 weeks gestation) and later in pregnancy (28–32 weeks gestation). Bone quality was assessed for mothers and children at the calcaneus using quantitative ultrasound (Achilles InSight, GE). Speed of Sound (SOS), Broadband Ultrasound Attenuation (BUA) and Stiffness Index (SI) were the outcomes of interest. Maternal 25(OH)D in early pregnancy was associated with offspring SOS (β 1.46 m/s 95% CI 0.12, 2.8). When separated by sex, there was no association between maternal 25(OH)D at recruitment and offspring SI (r =  − 0.05, p = 0.68), SOS (r = 0.11, p = 0.34) or BUA (− 0.09, p = 0.43) in girls. In boys, maternal 25(OH)D at recruitment was associated with SI (r = 0.21, p = 0.048), and SOS (r = 0.24, p = 0.03) but not BUA (r = 0.10, p = 0.37). Adjustment for the offspring factors and respective maternal QUS parameter did not attenuate associations between maternal 25(OH)D in early pregnancy with offspring SOS, nor SI. There was no association with BUA. Furthermore, there was no association between maternal 25(OH)D in late pregnancy with any offspring QUS parameter. These prospective data support existing evidence of a positive relationship between maternal 25(OH)D levels during early pregnancy and measures of bone health of offspring in childhood, independent of maternal bone phenotype.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank participants of the Vitamin D in Pregnancy study for their continued involvement. Our appreciation is also extended to study staff and former investigators, particularly Ruth Morley, Kathy Bennett, and Amelia Betson, for their roles in the collecting clinical data. The initial phases of this study were funded by a project grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Australia, and the follow-up was supported by a grant from the Bupa Health Foundation. NKH and SMH are supported by Dean’s Research Postdoctoral Fellowships (Deakin University). SLB-O is supported by an NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (1107510).

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NKH conceptualized and performed the analyses and drafted the first version of the manuscript under the supervision of SBL-O and JAP. She is guarantor. JDW and JAP were involved in establishing the cohort and led the most recent follow-up. SMH was involved in data collection at 11 years. All authors provided feedback and revisions for the intellectual content of the paper and approved the final version.

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Correspondence to Natalie K. Hyde.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This study was approved by Barwon Health Human Research Ethics Committee and all mothers and/or guardians provided consent on behalf of themselves and their child. At 11 years of age the children provided optional assent.

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Hyde, N.K., Brennan-Olsen, S.L., Wark, J.D. et al. Gestational Vitamin D and Offspring Bone Measures: Is the Association Independent of Maternal Bone Quality?. Calcif Tissue Int 108, 188–195 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-020-00762-8

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