Impact of maternal veiling during pregnancy and socioeconomic status on offspring's musculoskeletal health

Abstract

The impact of maternal veiling during pregnancy and of socioeconomic status on offspring's bone mass was investigated in 326 healthy adolescents. Veiling during pregnancy was associated with decreased musculoskeletal parameters in the offspring boys, but not girls. SES was a significant predictor of bone mass in both genders.

Introduction: This study investigates the effects of maternal veiling during pregnancy, a surrogate for low vitamin D level, and socioeconomic status (SES), a surrogate of nutritional status, on their offspring's bone mass at adolescence.

Methods: Three hundred and twenty-six healthy adolescents aged 13.1(2.0) years and their mothers were studied. The impact of maternal veiling on offspring's bone mass was evaluated through regression analyses. Outcome variables were bone mineral density (BMD) and content (BMC) at the spine, hip, and total body of the children. Predictors were maternal veiling during pregnancy and SES. Covariates were height, body composition, Tanner staging, calcium intake, vitamin D and exercise in children.

Results: In boys, adjusted analyses revealed that both maternal veiling during pregnancy and SES were significant predictors of bone mass, at multiple skeletal sites. In girls, SES but not maternal veiling during pregnancy was a significant predictor of bone mass at multiple sites.

Conclusion: Maternal veiling during pregnancy was associated with decreased musculoskeletal parameters of boys, but not girls. SES was a significant predictor of bone mass in both genders. These findings may have profound implications on children's bone health.