Bone marker status in mothers and their newborns in Iran.
OBJECTIVE
The contribution of maternal skeletal calcium metabolism in pregnancy is evidenced in changes in the markers of bone formation and bone resorption. Changes in maternal bone markers could affect fetal bone mineralization. The aim of this study was to determine the association between maternal and cord blood bone markers.


METHODS
Five hundred and fifty-two pregnant women were recruited from Tehran University educating hospitals in the winter of 2002. Maternal and cord blood samples were taken at delivery. The serum was assayed for osteocalcin and crosslaps, calcium, and parathyroid hormone.


RESULTS
There was significant correlation between maternal and cord blood serum osteocalcin and crosslaps levels, and the mean cord blood levels of osteocalcin and crosslaps were significantly higher at about 1.59- and 1.62-fold maternal levels, respectively. Serum calcium levels strongly correlated with osteocalcin and crosslaps in mothers (r = 0.21, p = 0.001 and r = 0.25, p = 0.001, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Skeletal calcium release may play a major role in calcium homeostasis during pregnancy. Because of this, calcium supplements could have an important role in pregnant women in decreasing the risk of subsequent complications such as osteoporosis.
Maghbooli
Zhila
Z
Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Medical Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Hossein-Nezhad
Arash
A
Nikoo
Mohsen Khoshniat
MK
Shafei
Ali R
AR
Rahmani
Mazaher
M
Larijani
Bagher
B
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism*; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007492:Iran; D009035:Mothers; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D015675:Osteocalcin; D002112:Calcifediol