Biology of the Neonate · 2009 · 39 citations · 0 references
MedicinePediatricsBone MetabolismChild NutritionMineral MetabolismBone DevelopmentBone DisordersBone GrowthBone HealthBone Metabolism DisordersEarly Childhood NutritionBone Matrix Mineral ContentBone Mineral DensityBone Mineral LossDual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry AssessmentNeonatal Bone Mineral MetabolismOsteopenia Of PrematurityPediatric Bone DiseasePediatric Bone Health
To elucidate the long-term consequences of osteopenia of prematurity, lumbar spinal bone mass was measured in 21 preterm-born children aged 3-4 years by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Their mineral intake remained low during early life, and all 11 infants previously studied were osteopenic at term postconception. At the age of 3-4 years, however, all 21 children were found to have normal bone mineral content and density with slightly elevated serum osteocalcin levels. Our results show that in preterm-born children spontaneous resolution of lumbar spinal osteopenia occurs during early childhood.