Breast-feeding and formula feeding in healthy term infants and bone health at age 10 years.

Few studies have investigated the effects of infant nutrition on later bone health in term infants, although low sn-2 palmitate in infant formulas has been shown to result in the formation of stool fatty acid soaps, reduced Ca absorption and lower bone mass in the short term. To investigate the effect of (1) breast-feeding (BF) and (2) the type of infant formula (standard fat blend v. high-sn-2 fat blend) on bone mass at age 10 years, anthropometry and bone mass (from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (GE Lunar Prodigy); lumbar spine (LS) and total body less head; adjusted for size (bone mineral apparent density standard deviation score (SDS) and regression)) were measured in 10-year-old subjects born at term and either breast-fed (n 34) or randomised to a standard control formula (n 27) or a high-sn-2 palmitate formula (n 30) for the first 12 weeks of life. At follow-up, previously BF children were older but lighter (by 0·5 SDS, P= 0·03) than formula-fed children with a lower LS bone mineral density SDS (by 0·44, P= 0·03), but size-adjusted bone mass did not differ. There were no significant differences in bone mass between the formula-fed groups. These findings suggest that there is no significant effect of BF or high-sn-2 infant formula on size-adjusted bone mass in mid-childhood, and that the effects of infant nutrition on bone mass previously reported may be confined to the short term. A larger study would be required to exclude smaller effects.

Correlation of selenium and zinc levels to antiretroviral treatment outcomes in Thai HIV-infected children without severe HIV symptoms.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Deficiencies in antioxidants contribute to immune dysregulation and viral replication. To evaluate the correlation of selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) levels on the treatment outcomes in HIV-infected children. SUBJECTS/METHODS: HIV-infected Thai children 1-12 years old, CD4 15-24%, without severe HIV symptoms were included. Se and Zn levels were measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry at baseline and 48 weeks. Deficiency cutoffs were Se <0.1 µmol/l and Zn <9.9 µmol/l. Serum ferritin and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured every 24 weeks. No micronutrient supplement was prescribed. RESULTS: In all, 141 children (38.3% male) with a median (interquartile range (IQR)) age of 7.3 (4.2-9.0) years were enrolled. Median baseline CD4% was 20%, HIV-RNA was 4.6 log(10)copies/ml. At baseline, median (IQR) Se and Zn levels were 0.9 (0.7-1.0) µmol/l and 5.9 (4.8-6.9) µmol/l, respectively. None had Se deficiency while all had Zn deficiency. Over 48 weeks, 97 initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 81% achieved HIV-RNA <50 copies/ml with 11% median CD4 gain. The mean change of Se was 0.06 µmol/l (P=0.003) and Zn was 0.42 µmol/l (P=0.003), respectively. By multivariate analysis in children who received ART, predictors for greater increase of CD4% from baseline were lower baseline CD4% (P<0.01) and higher baseline Zn level (P=0.02). The predictors for greater decrease of HIV-RNA from baseline were higher baseline HIV-RNA and higher ferritin (both P<0.01). No association of CRP with the changes from baseline of CD4% or HIV-RNA was found. CONCLUSION: In HIV-infected Thai children without severe immune deficiency who commenced ART, no correlation between Se and ART treatment outcomes was found. Higher pre-ART Zn levels were associated with significant increases in CD4% at 48 weeks.

Quantitative ultrasound (QUS): a useful tool for monitoring bone health in preterm infants?

UNLABELLED: Preterm infants are at risk of osteopenia and metabolic bone disease (MBD) of prematurity. There is a need for simple, reliable methods to detect and monitor this condition. AIMS: The aims were first to describe longitudinal changes in speed of sound (SOS) measured using quantitative ultrasound (QUS; Sunlight Omnisense, Israel) in preterm neonates: and second to determine whether SOS predicts the development of MBD. METHODS: SOS was measured in the tibia in 99 preterm infants (mean (SD)) gestation 29.7 (3.6) weeks; birthweight 1340 (550) g, with longitudinal measurements in 75. SOS z-scores were generated for gestation and sex. Clinical data were recorded. RESULTS: Baseline SOS (but not SOS z-score) was positively associated with gestational age. SOS and SOS z-score fell with age. In multivariate models, peak ALP, minimum phosphate concentrations and markers of illness severity were not predictors of the fall in SOS z-score, and baseline SOS measurements did not predict the development of high peak ALP or low phosphate. INTERPRETATION: Speed of sound measurements fell with age in all infants, but we found no evidence that this measurement could predict biochemical indicators of MBD. We cannot exclude the possibility that this technique could be useful in monitoring the response to interventions designed to improve bone health in this population.

Undercarboxylated osteocalcin and bone mass in 8-12 year old children with cystic fibrosis.

UNLABELLED: Young adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) frequently develop bone disease. One suggested aetiological factor is suboptimal vitamin K status with impaired carboxylation of osteocalcin and abnormal bone formation. METHODS: We measured bone mineralization and turnover in thirty-two 8-12 year old CF patients (14 boys) using Dual Energy X-ray absorptiometry (whole body (WB) and lumbar spine (LS)), 25-OH Vitamin D, PTH and markers of bone formation (plasma osteocalcin, N-terminal pro-peptide of type 1 collagen (P1NP)), plus an indirect measure of vitamin K status, undercarboxylated osteocalcin (uc-OC). RESULTS: LS bone mineral density (BMD) standard deviation (SD) scores were < -1.0 in 20% of subjects. Size-adjusted LS and WB bone mass was normal. Compared to reference data, % uc-OC was high and P1NP low. LS bone mass was predicted by % uc-OC but not other markers (0.4% decrease in size-adjusted LSBMC (p=0.05); 0.04 SD decrease in LSBMAD (p=0.04) per 1% increase in uc-OC). CONCLUSION: Markers suggestive of sub-optimal vitamin K status and low bone formation were present despite normal size-adjusted bone mass. The association between LSBMC and % uc-OC is consistent with the hypothesis that sub-optimal vitamin K status is a risk factor for CF bone disease. This should ideally be investigated in an intervention trial.