The Assessment of Bone Regulatory Pathways, Bone Turnover, and Bone Mineral Density in Vegetarian and Omnivorous Children

Abstract

Vegetarian diets contain many beneficial properties as well as carry a risk of inadequate intakes of several nutrients important to bone health. The aim of the study was to evaluate serum levels of bone metabolism markers and to analyze the relationships between biochemical bone markers and anthropometric parameters in children on vegetarian and omnivorous diets. The study included 70 prepubertal children on a lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet and 60 omnivorous children. Body composition, bone mineral content (BMC), and bone mineral density (BMD) were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Biochemical markers—bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I), osteoprotegerin (OPG), nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL), sclerostin, and Dickkopf-related protein 1 (Dkk-1)—were measured using immunoenzymatic assays. In vegetarians, we observed a significantly higher level of BALP (p = 0.002) and CTX-I (p = 0.027), and slightly lower spine BMC (p = 0.067) and BMD (p = 0.060) than in omnivores. Concentrations of OPG, RANKL, sclerostin, and Dkk-1 were comparable in both groups of children. We found that CTX-I was positively correlated with BMC, total BMD, and lumbar spine BMD in vegetarians, but not in omnivores. A well-planned vegetarian diet with proper dairy and egg intake does not lead to significantly lower bone mass; however, children following a lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet had a higher rate of bone turnover and subtle changes in bone regulatory markers. CTX-I might be an important marker for the protection of vegetarians from bone abnormalities.

Crecimiento en niños y en hijos de madres que adhieren a dietas vegetarianas: revisión de la literatura

“…Los niños con dieta LOV tuvieron una ingesta de hasta 30 % menor de proteínas, con un menor porcentaje de energía proveniente de ellas. 47 R o m a n y c o l s . ( E E .…”

“…Se incluye un estudio que informa la estatura final adulta en individuos mayores de 20 años adherentes a una dieta LOV de por vida. [46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61] Los estudios se realizaron en Polonia, 46,47 India, 48 Alemania, 49 EE. UU., 50 Rumania, 51 Australia, 52 Reino Unido, [53][54][55] Kenia, [56][57][58] China, 59,60 y Bélgica 61 .…”

“…El resto de los estudios son observacionales-transversales. [46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][59][60][61] (Tabla 4).…”

Pathways involved in pony body size development

“…SLC8A3 and TRPV4/5 are the key genes encoding Ca 2+ transport channels on the cell membrane [ 36 , 37 ]. ALP is the decisive factor leading to bone mineralization [ 38 , 39 ]. High expression of these genes in long bone tissue cells may increase Ca 2+ transport, thus accelerating the mineralization of the osteoblast ECM.…”

Rationale for intake of vitamin-mineral complexes by children vegetarians

“…У детей препубертатного возраста, придерживающихся лактоововегетарианской диеты, обнаруживаются повышенная активность щелочной фосфатазы и повышенная концентрация C-концевого телопептида коллагена I типа (CTX-I) в плазме крови, тенденция к снижению минеральной плотности костной ткани по сравнению с показателями у детей такого же возраста, находящихся на смешанном рационе [16], а также сниженная концентрация витаминов А и Е [17].…”