Placental size at 19 weeks predicts offspring bone mass at birth: findings from the Southampton Women's Survey.
OBJECTIVE
In this study we investigate the relationships between placental size and neonatal bone mass and body composition, in a population-based cohort.


METHODS
914 mother-neonate pairs were included. Placental dimensions were measured via ultrasound at 19 weeks gestation. Dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was performed on the neonates within the first two weeks of life.


RESULTS
We observed positive relationships between placental volume at 19 weeks, and neonatal bone area (BA; r = 0.26, p < 0.001), bone mineral content (BMC; r = 0.25, p < 0.001) and bone mineral density (BMD; r = 0.10, p = 0.001). Thus placental volume accounted for 6.25% and 1.2% of the variation in neonatal BMC and BMD respectively at birth. These associations remained after adjustment for maternal factors previously shown to be associated with neonatal bone mineral accrual (maternal height, smoking, walking speed in late pregnancy, serum 25(OH) vitamin D and triceps skinfold thickness).


CONCLUSIONS
We found that placental volume at 19 weeks gestation was positively associated with neonatal bone size and mineral content. These relationships appeared independent of those maternal factors known to be associated with neonatal bone mass, consistent with notion that such maternal influences might act through modulation of aspects of placental function, e.g. utero-placental blood flow or maternal nutrient concentrations, rather than placental size itself. Low placental volume early in pregnancy may be a marker of a reduced postnatal skeletal size and increased risk of later fracture.
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, (University of Southampton), Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
C R
CR
Holroyd
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, (University of Southampton), Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
N C
NC
Harvey
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, (University of Southampton), Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
S R
SR
Crozier
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, (University of Southampton), Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
N R
NR
Winder
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, (University of Southampton), Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
P A
PA
Mahon
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, (University of Southampton), Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
G
G
Ntami
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, (University of Southampton), Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.|Southampton NIHR Biomedical Research Unit in Nutrition, Diet and Lifestyle, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK.
K M
KM
Godfrey
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, (University of Southampton), Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
H M
HM
Inskip
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, (University of Southampton), Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
C
C
Cooper
D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000209:etiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D010012:Osteogenesis; D010920:Placenta / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010927:Placental Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology; D010929:Placentation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal