The Long-Term Impact of Preterm Birth on Metabolic Bone Profile and Bone Mineral Density in Childhood

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Recent data on long-term consequences of prematurity on bone health are conflicting. The aim of this study was to assess the metabolic bone profile and bone mineral density (BMD) in prepubertal children born prematurely and to examine possible associations b...

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Main Authors: Panagiota Markopoulou, Artemis Doulgeraki, Arsinoi Koutroumpa, Georgios Polyzois, Helen Athanasopoulou, Christina Kanaka-Gantenbein, Tania Siahanidou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Metabolites
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/15/7/463
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author Panagiota Markopoulou
Artemis Doulgeraki
Arsinoi Koutroumpa
Georgios Polyzois
Helen Athanasopoulou
Christina Kanaka-Gantenbein
Tania Siahanidou
author_facet Panagiota Markopoulou
Artemis Doulgeraki
Arsinoi Koutroumpa
Georgios Polyzois
Helen Athanasopoulou
Christina Kanaka-Gantenbein
Tania Siahanidou
author_sort Panagiota Markopoulou
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives</b>: Recent data on long-term consequences of prematurity on bone health are conflicting. The aim of this study was to assess the metabolic bone profile and bone mineral density (BMD) in prepubertal children born prematurely and to examine possible associations between bone health parameters and perinatal morbidity factors. <b>Methods</b>: This cross-sectional observational study included 144 children of mean (SD) age 10.9 (1.6) years: 49 children born very preterm (≤32 gestational weeks), 37 moderate-to-late preterm (32<sup>+1</sup> to 36<sup>+6</sup> gestational weeks), and 58 born at term (controls). Serum levels of calcium/Ca, phosphorus/P, alkaline phosphatase/ALP, 25-hydroxyvitamin D/25(OH)D, bone formation markers (osteocalcin/OC, procollagen type I C-terminal propeptide/PICP, and insulin growth factor-1/IGF-1), and bone resorption markers (serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b/bone TRAP5band urinary calcium-to-creatinine ratio) were measured. Total-body and lumbar-spine BMD and BMD Z-scores were calculated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry/DXA. <b>Results</b>: Children born very preterm showed significantly higher ALP, OC, PICP, and bone TRAP5b levels compared to controls, as well as compared to children born moderate-to-late preterm. Total-body and lumbar-spine BMD Z-scores were significantly lower in the very preterm-born group compared to controls. Gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia were associated with lower total-body BMD in the very preterm-born population. <b>Conclusions</b>: Preterm birth is associated with impaired metabolic bone profile and lower total-body and lumbar-spine BMD in childhood. Moderate-to-late preterm-born children exhibit altered metabolic bone parameters compared to very preterm-born children. Further research in children might allow better insight into the long-term impact of preterm birth on bone health.
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spelling doaj-art-eac7aae26ffa4c48b2906f23631e39942025-08-20T03:58:27ZengMDPI AGMetabolites2218-19892025-07-0115746310.3390/metabo15070463The Long-Term Impact of Preterm Birth on Metabolic Bone Profile and Bone Mineral Density in ChildhoodPanagiota Markopoulou0Artemis Doulgeraki1Arsinoi Koutroumpa2Georgios Polyzois3Helen Athanasopoulou4Christina Kanaka-Gantenbein5Tania Siahanidou6Neonatology Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, 11527 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Bone and Mineral Metabolism, Institute of Child Health, 11527 Athens, GreeceSecond Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, 11527 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Bone and Mineral Metabolism, Institute of Child Health, 11527 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Bone and Mineral Metabolism, Institute of Child Health, 11527 Athens, GreeceNeonatology Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, 11527 Athens, GreeceNeonatology Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Recent data on long-term consequences of prematurity on bone health are conflicting. The aim of this study was to assess the metabolic bone profile and bone mineral density (BMD) in prepubertal children born prematurely and to examine possible associations between bone health parameters and perinatal morbidity factors. <b>Methods</b>: This cross-sectional observational study included 144 children of mean (SD) age 10.9 (1.6) years: 49 children born very preterm (≤32 gestational weeks), 37 moderate-to-late preterm (32<sup>+1</sup> to 36<sup>+6</sup> gestational weeks), and 58 born at term (controls). Serum levels of calcium/Ca, phosphorus/P, alkaline phosphatase/ALP, 25-hydroxyvitamin D/25(OH)D, bone formation markers (osteocalcin/OC, procollagen type I C-terminal propeptide/PICP, and insulin growth factor-1/IGF-1), and bone resorption markers (serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b/bone TRAP5band urinary calcium-to-creatinine ratio) were measured. Total-body and lumbar-spine BMD and BMD Z-scores were calculated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry/DXA. <b>Results</b>: Children born very preterm showed significantly higher ALP, OC, PICP, and bone TRAP5b levels compared to controls, as well as compared to children born moderate-to-late preterm. Total-body and lumbar-spine BMD Z-scores were significantly lower in the very preterm-born group compared to controls. Gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia were associated with lower total-body BMD in the very preterm-born population. <b>Conclusions</b>: Preterm birth is associated with impaired metabolic bone profile and lower total-body and lumbar-spine BMD in childhood. Moderate-to-late preterm-born children exhibit altered metabolic bone parameters compared to very preterm-born children. Further research in children might allow better insight into the long-term impact of preterm birth on bone health.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/15/7/463prematuritybone mineral densitybone formationbone resorptionlong-term bone health
spellingShingle Panagiota Markopoulou
Artemis Doulgeraki
Arsinoi Koutroumpa
Georgios Polyzois
Helen Athanasopoulou
Christina Kanaka-Gantenbein
Tania Siahanidou
The Long-Term Impact of Preterm Birth on Metabolic Bone Profile and Bone Mineral Density in Childhood
Metabolites
prematurity
bone mineral density
bone formation
bone resorption
long-term bone health
title The Long-Term Impact of Preterm Birth on Metabolic Bone Profile and Bone Mineral Density in Childhood
title_full The Long-Term Impact of Preterm Birth on Metabolic Bone Profile and Bone Mineral Density in Childhood
title_fullStr The Long-Term Impact of Preterm Birth on Metabolic Bone Profile and Bone Mineral Density in Childhood
title_full_unstemmed The Long-Term Impact of Preterm Birth on Metabolic Bone Profile and Bone Mineral Density in Childhood
title_short The Long-Term Impact of Preterm Birth on Metabolic Bone Profile and Bone Mineral Density in Childhood
title_sort long term impact of preterm birth on metabolic bone profile and bone mineral density in childhood
topic prematurity
bone mineral density
bone formation
bone resorption
long-term bone health
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/15/7/463
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