Bone quality is affected by food restriction and by nutrition-induced catch-up growth

Abstract

Growth stunting constitutes the most common effect of malnutrition. When the primary cause of malnutrition is resolved, catch-up (CU) growth usually occurs. In this study, we have explored the effect of food restriction (RES) and refeeding on bone structure and mechanical properties. Sprague-Dawley male rats aged 24 days were subjected to 10 days of 40% RES, followed by refeeding for 1 (CU) or 26 days long-term CU (LTCU). The rats fed ad libitum served as controls. The growth plates were measured, osteoclasts were identified using tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining, and micro-computed tomography (CT) scanning and mechanical testing were used to study structure and mechanical properties. Micro-CT analysis showed that RES led to a significant reduction in trabecular BV/TV and trabecular number (Tb.N), concomitant with an increase in trabecular separation (Tb.Sp). Trabecular BV/TV and Tb.N were significantly greater in the CU group than in the RES in both short-and long-term experiments. Mechanical testing showed that RES led to weaker and less compliant bones; interestingly, bones of the CU group were also more fragile after 1 day of CU. Longer term of refeeding enabled correction of the bone parameters; however, LTCU did not achieve full recovery. These results suggest that RES in young rats attenuated growth and reduced trabecular bone parameters. While nutrition-induced CU growth led to an immediate increase in epiphyseal growth plate height and active bone modeling, it was also associated with a transient reduction in bone quality. This should be taken into consideration when treating children undergoing CU growth.

Compensatory and catch-up growth in cattle

“…Supplemented heifers had higher plasma concentrations of insulin, IGF-1 and T3 hormone as well as thicker PZ and HZ and larger terminal hypertrophic chondrocytes (Table 5-7 and Table 5-8). Similarly, Pando et al (2014) reported severe reductions in the concentration of circulating IGF-1 (reduced to about 20% of concentration in control animals) during caloric restrictions associated with a smaller epiphyseal growth plate. Moreover, IGF-1 null mice have a smaller HZ and terminal hypertrophic chondrocytes as well as slower bone elongation rate when compared to wild-type mice.…”

“…In addition, the percentage change in bone volume (BV/TV; Figure 4-25) during Phase 1 also indicated that the loss of trabecular bone volume was slightly reduced in steers fed high CP during ME restriction. Pando et al (2014) have demonstrated that after only one day of re-alimentation there was a significant increase in collagen fibre deposition in the trabecular bone of rats, and this was accompanied by a rise in BAP and IGF-1 to the same concentration as rats in the control group. This shows that bone formation is a very dynamic process and highly responsive to nutrition and a change in nutrition.…”

“…Moreover, IGF-1 null mice have a smaller HZ and terminal hypertrophic chondrocytes as well as slower bone elongation rate when compared to wild-type mice. Nutritional effects on endocrine and morphological parameters of the growth plate have been previously reported in rabbits (Heinrichs et al, 1997) and rodents (Rossi et al, 2001;Cornelia et al, 2003;Gat-Yablonski et al, 2008;Pando et al, 2014). Longitudinal bone growth at the growth plate is regulated by a complex system of endocrine signals (Nilsson et al, 2005).…”

“…The main variable utilized in this work to describe growth was height (bone elongation) of individuals and since then the term catch-up growth has been mostly adopted for this purpose (Baron et al, 1994;Gafni et al, 2001;Cornelia et al, 2003;Emons et al, 2005;Marino et al, 2008;Pando et al, 2014;Gat-Yablonski and Phillip, 2015). As described above, some authors have used this term synonymously with compensatory growth (Yambayamba and Price, 1991a) while others describe it as a different phenomenon (Jobling, 2010).…”

“…In order to understand the effect of nutrition on bone elongation and catch-up growth, a series of studies have been made by imposing a 10 day restriction on growing rodents to a 60% food intake relative to a control group followed by an ad libitum phase (Gat-Yablonski, 2004;Even-Zohar et al, 2008;GatYablonski et al, 2008;Pando et al, 2012;Pando et al, 2014).…”