Evaluating the associations of adult heel BMD with birth weight and growth parameters at age 10 in UK Biobank cohort.

This study was aimed to evaluate the associations of adult heel bone mineral density (BMD) with birth weight and growth parameters at the age of ten years. The analysis data (97178–178,494 subjects) was derived from the UK Biobank cohort. Birth weight, comparative body size and height size at the age of ten years were determined by self-report. The heel BMD was estimated by the Quantitative Ultrasound Index through the calcaneus. Linear regression analysis was applied to test the associations of adult heel BMD with birth weight and growth parameters at the age of ten years, respectively. Age, sex, body mass index and 10 principle components (PC) of population structure were used as covariates in the regression analysis of total samples. In sex-specific analysis, age, body mass index and 10 PC were used as covariates. We observed significant associations of heel BMD with birth weight (b = −0.020, P = 1.974 × 10−13), comparative body size (b = 0.020, P = 2.539 × 10−6) and comparative height size (b = −0.020, P = 5.892 × 10−11) at the age of ten years in total samples. In females, birth weight (b = −0.040, P = 2.870 × 10−24) and comparative height size (b = −0.040, P = 2.034 × 10−20) were statistically associated with adult heel BMD. In males, comparative body size appeared to be associated with adult heel BMD (b = 0.030, P = 1.590 × 10−7). Our study results support the predictive effects of birth weight and growth parameters at the age of ten years on adult heel BMD. We also observed sex-specific association between adult heel BMD and growth parameters at the age of ten years. • Birth weight was negatively associated with adult heel BMD in total sample. • Growth parameters at age 10 were correlated with adult heel BMD in total sample. • Birth weight, comparative height size at age 10 was related to heel BMD of women. • Comparative body size at age 10 was significantly associated with heel BMD of men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]