Pregnancy and lactation affect markers of calcium and bone metabolism differently in adolescent and adult women with low calcium intakes
Bezerra, Fávia.F.; Laboissière, Fícia.P.; King, J.C.; Donangelo, C.M.
Journal of Nutrition 132(8): 2183-2187
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3166 PMID: 12163659 Document Number: 247383
Physiologic adaptation to the high calcium demand during pregnancy and lactation may be different in adolescents than in adults, particularly at low calcium intake. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare biochemical markers of calcium and bone metabolism between adolescent (14-19 y) and adult (21-35 y) women with calcium intake ~500 mg/d, in three different physiologic states, i.e., control (nonpregnant, nonlactating; NPNL), pregnant and lactating. Markers of calcium metabolism [serum Ca, P and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH); urinary Ca and P] and of bone turnover [urinary deoxypyridinoline (D-Pyr) and plasma bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP)] were measured in NPNL (adolescents, n=12 and adults, n=25), pregnant (adolescents, n=30 and adults, n=36) and lactating (adolescents, n=19 and adults, n=26) women. In the NPNL women, iPTH, D-Pyr and BAP were higher (P<0.001) and urinary Ca was lower (P<0.001) in adolescents than in adults. Serum iPTH was higher (P<0.001) and urinary Ca was lower (P<0.01) in adolescents than in adults also in pregnancy and lactation. Compared with NPNL women, serum Ca decreased (P<0.001) with pregnancy in adolescents but not in adults. The increase in D-Pyr with pregnancy and lactation was very pronounced in adults (~130%, P<0.001) but less in adolescents (<25%, P<0.01). BAP increased (P<0.001) with pregnancy and lactation in adults (~60%) but decreased (P<0.001) with pregnancy in adolescents (~13%). Pregnancy and lactation appear to affect bone turnover in adolescent and adult women with low calcium intake differently.