Does birth weight predict bone mass in adulthood?

Past studies have pointed out the possible association of birth weight with bone mass in adulthood. The aim of this study [1] was to assess the strength and magnitude of the association between early size and adult bone mass.

Using systematic reviews of fourteen independent studies and subsequent meta-analysis, the authors reported that birth weight is associated with hip and lumbar spine bone mineral content (BMC), but not with hip and lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD). A meta-analysis demonstrated that a 1 kg birth weight increase was associated with an adult increase of +1.49 g in lumbar spine BMC and +1.41 g in hip BMC, respectively. Interestingly, three independent studies reported that higher weight at one year is associated with greater BMCs of both lumbar spine and hip.

The authors suggest that these associations provide evidence for prenatal programming of skeletal development and highlight its importance in regard to skeletal size from infancy to adulthood.

1. Baird et al. Osteoporos Int. 2011; 22:1323-1334.