Effects of starvation-induced catch-up growth on bone mass, bone metabolism, and calciotropic hormones in young male rats
J. Li, Z. Wen, Y. Sun, N. Li, and X. Liu
Department of Endocrinology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, PR China

Abstract

Background and aims: Catch-up growth is a period of rapid growth that follows growth retardation caused by illness or malnutrition. It has been considered as a risk factor for obesity and chronic metabolic diseases. The aims of this study is to examine the effects of catch-up growth on bone mass, bone metabolism, and calciotropic hormone release. Methods: Six-week old male Wistar rats were fed with a reduced diet for 4 weeks and then a normal diet for another 10 weeks. The rats under a normal diet were used as controls. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the femur and lumbar vertebrae and fat mass were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The visceral fat/bodymass ratio and the levels of bone turnover markers, calciotropic hormones, adipokines, and sex hormones were assessed. Results: After 14 weeks, both groups had similar body weights. However, rats in the catch-up growth group (Catch-up) had more visceral fat accumulation, higher levels of serum insulin, leptin, estradiol, parathyroid hormone (PTH), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, and urine deoxypyridinoline, and lower levels of serumtestosterone, adiponectin, 1,25(OH)2D3 and osteocalcin compared with those in the control group. No significant difference was found between the two groups in the levels of serum calcium and phosphorus. The lumbar vertebrae BMD was significantly lower in the Catch-up group than in controls. Conclusion: These results suggest that starvation-induced catch-up growth regulates not only fat deposition but also bone metabolism. Obesity and Metabolism 2010; 6: 125-130.

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