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Biomedical subjects

Christian Mølgaard

Publications and source records attributed to Christian Mølgaard.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Prevention and treatment of obesity in children].

In the last 10 years, there has been a marked increase in the prevalence of obesity in children beginning at 3-4 years of age. The only realistic solution to the problem is prevention. Although there is limited evidence for the effectiveness of preventive programmes, there is a consensus that multisectorial action is urgently needed. This should include intervention at the family, school, municipal, regional and national levels, including the commercial sector and food companies. Treating childhood obesity has not been very successful, but some comprehensive community-based treatment programmes have shown reasonable long-term results. There is a need to establish such community-based treatments with emphasis on psychological aspects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Vitamin D and estrogen receptor-alpha genotype and indices of bone mass and bone turnover in Danish girls.

Peak bone mass is a major determinant of osteoporosis risk in later life. It is under strong genetic control; however, little is known about the identity of the genes involved. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between polymorphisms in the genes encoding the vitamin D receptor (VDR) (FokI, TaqI) and estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) (PvuII, XbaI), and bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and markers of bone turnover in 224 Danish girls aged 11-12 years. BMD and BMC were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Serum osteocalcin, 25(OH)D, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were measured by ELISA assays and urinary pyridinium cross-links by HPLC. Physical activity, dietary calcium, and Tanner stage were assessed by questionnaire. In general, there were no significant differences in anthropometrical variables, physical activity, dietary calcium, serum 25(OH)D, or PTH among genotype groups. BMD or BMC of lumbar spine or whole body (adjusted for body and bone size and pubertal status) were not associated with VDR or ERalpha genotypes or the combination of these genotypes. This lack of association remained even after adjustment for dietary and environmental factors. VDR genotypes had no effect on bone turnover markers. XX and PP ERalpha genotypes were associated (P < 0.05) with reduced levels of urinary pyridinium cross-links, whereas serum osteocalcin was similar among genotypes. These findings suggest that the rate of bone resorption was influenced by ERalpha genotypes, even though these biochemical differences were not evident in bone mass indices.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2006

Secular change in size at birth from 1973 to 2003: national data from Denmark.

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether birth weight (BW) has been increasing in Denmark at the same level as in other countries and whether this increase is paralleled by an increase in birth length (BL) or whether body proportionality, expressed as ponderal index (PI), has changed. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: This study used data analysis of information from The Danish Medical Birth Registry including all single live births in Denmark from 1973 to 2003 (n = 1,863,456). BW, BL, gestational age, maternal age, and smoking status (only from 1991 on) were measured. RESULTS: Mean BW increased steadily during the period (160 grams; equivalent to approximately 5 g/yr) at a rate higher than that reported from other countries. BL showed only a minor increase (2.4 mm), leading to an increase in PI (0.8 kg/m3) during the period. Controlling for the effect of increasing maternal age and decreasing gestational age and maternal smoking prevalence (only data after 1991), there was still an increase in BW of approximately 4 g/yr. DISCUSSION: During the last 30 years, neonates have become bigger, with a larger relative increase in BW than BL, leading to an increase in PI. The increasing BW and PI, which may be caused by increased maternal weight, could further promote the obesity epidemic.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

A seasonal variation of calcitropic hormones, bone turnover and bone mineral density in early and mid-puberty girls - a cross-sectional study.

The importance of the seasonal variation of calcitropic hormones to growing skeleton has not been established. We studied whether there exists a seasonal variation in calcitropic hormones, bone mineral density (BMD) and bone remodelling markers in early puberty girls. One hundred and ninety-six girls, mean age 11.4 (sd 0.4) years, in Tanner stage 2 (early puberty) and 3 (mid-puberty) were studied during September to March. The BMD was measured from the lumbar vertebrae and the left femur by dual-energy X-ray absoptiometry. Their serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (S-25-OHD), serum intact parathyroid hormone (S-iPTH), serum osteocalcin, urinary pyridinoline and urinary deoxypyridinoline were analysed from fasting samples. The concentration of S-25-OHD and serum osteocalcin differed among months (P < 0.01), reflecting a seasonal variation. The parathyroid hormone correlated negatively with S-25-OHD (r -0.325, P < 0.001). Moreover, the BMD in the femur (P = 0.047) and to a lesser extent in vertebrae (P = 0.057) differed between months in early puberty girls but this was not seen in mid-puberty. Seasonal variation in S-25-OHD and bone remodelling markers accompanied by negative correlation between S-25-OHD and S-iPTH was seen in this cross-sectional study of adolescent girls. In addition, the seasonal rhythm contributed 7.0-7.6 % difference in the BMD of lumbar vertebrae and left femur in early puberty girls. This variation should be avoided since it could hamper peak bone mass attainment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Calcium supplementation for 1 y does not reduce body weight or fat mass in young girls.

BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence from observational studies indicates that a high calcium intake may reduce body weight and body fat. However, few randomized trials have been conducted. OBJECTIVE: We examined whether calcium supplementation affects body weight and body fat in young girls and whether a relation exists between habitual calcium intake and body weight and body fat. DESIGN: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention study was conducted in 110 young girls. The subjects were randomly assigned to receive 500 mg Ca/d as calcium carbonate or placebo for 1 y. Two groups of girls were selected according to habitual calcium intake from a large group; one group consumed 1000-1304 mg/d (40th-60th percentile; n = 60) and the other group consumed <713 mg/d (<20th percentile; n = 50). Height, body weight, body fat, and calcium intake were measured at baseline and after 1 y. RESULTS: At baseline a significant negative correlation was observed between habitual dietary calcium intake and percentage of body fat (r = -0.242, P = 0.011). However, calcium supplementation had no effect on height, body weight, or percentage body fat. CONCLUSIONS: Habitual dietary calcium intake was inversely associated with body fat, but a low-dose calcium supplement had no effect on body weight, height, or body fat over 1 y in young girls. It is possible that the effect of calcium on body weight is only exerted if it is ingested as part of a meal, or the effect may be due to other ingredients in dairy products, and calcium may simply be a marker for a high dairy intake.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2006

Cow's milk and linear growth in industrialized and developing countries.

The strongest evidence that cow's milk stimulates linear growth comes from observational and intervention studies in developing countries that show considerable effects. Additionally, many observational studies from well-nourished populations also show an association between milk intake and growth. These results suggest that milk has a growth-stimulating effect even in situations where the nutrient intake is adequate. This effect is supported by studies that show milk intake stimulates circulating insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, which suggests that at least part of the growth-stimulating effects of milk occur through the stimulation of IGFs. Given that the biological purpose of milk is to support the newborn during a period of high growth velocity, such an effect seems plausible. Adding cow's milk to the diet of stunted children is likely to improve linear growth and thereby reduce morbidity. In well-nourished children, the long-term consequences of an increased consumption of cow's milk, which may lead to higher levels of IGF-I in circulation or an increase in the velocity of linear growth, are likely to be both positive and negative. Based on emerging data that suggest both growth and diet during early life program the IGF axis, the association between milk intake and later health is likely to be complex.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

A positive dose-response effect of vitamin D supplementation on site-specific bone mineral augmentation in adolescent girls: a double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled 1-year intervention.

UNLABELLED: The effect of vitamin D supplementation on bone mineral augmentation in 212 adolescent girls with adequate calcium intake was studied in a randomized placebo-controlled setting. Bone mineral augmentation determined by DXA increased with supplementation both in the femur and the lumbar vertebrae in a dose-responsive manner. Supplementation decreased the urinary excretion of resorption markers, but had no impact on formation markers. INTRODUCTION: Adequate vitamin D intake protects the elderly against osteoporosis, but there exists no indisputable evidence that vitamin D supplementation would benefit bone mineral augmentation. The aim of this 1-year study was to determine in a randomized double-blinded trial the effect of 5 and 10 microg vitamin D3 supplementation on bone mineral augmentation in adolescent girls with adequate dietary calcium intake. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Altogether, 228 girls (mean age, 11.4 +/- 0.4 years) participated. Their BMC was measured by DXA from the femur and lumbar spine. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [S-25(OH)D], intact PTH (S-iPTH), osteocalcin (S-OC), and urinary pyridinoline (U-Pyr) and deoxypyridinoline (U-Dpyr) were measured. Statistical analysis was performed both with the intention-to-treat (IT) and compliance-based (CB) method. RESULTS: In the CB analysis, vitamin D supplementation increased femoral BMC augmentation by 14.3% with 5 microg and by 17.2% with 10 microg compared with the placebo group (ANCOVA, p = 0.012). A dose-response effect was observed in the vertebrae (ANCOVA, p = 0.039), although only with the highest dose. The mean concentration of S-25(OH)D increased (p < 0.001) in the 5-microg group by 5.7 +/- 15.7 nM and in the 10-microg group by 12.4 +/- 13.7 nM, whereas it decreased by 6.7 +/- 11.3 nM in the placebo group. Supplementation had no effect on S-iPTH or S-OC, but it decreased U-DPyr (p = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Bone mineral augmentation in the femur was 14.3% and 17.2% higher in the groups receiving 5 and 10 microg of vitamin D, respectively, compared with the placebo group, but only 10 mug increased lumbar spine BMC augmentation significantly. Vitamin D supplementation decreased the concentration of bone resorption markers, but had no impact on bone formation markers, thus explaining increased bone mineral augmentation. However, the positive effects were noted with the CB method but not with IT.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed2005

Short-term effects on bone turnover of replacing milk with cola beverages: a 10-day interventional study in young men.

In the Western world, increased consumption of carbonated soft drinks combined with a decreasing intake of milk may increase the risk of osteoporosis. This study was designed to reflect the trend of replacing milk with carbonated beverages in a group of young men on a low-calcium diet and studies the effects of this replacement on calcium homeostasis and bone turnover. This controlled crossover intervention study included 11 healthy men (22-29 years) who were given a low-calcium basic diet in two 10-day intervention periods with an intervening 10-day washout. During one period, they drank 2.5 l of Coca Cola per day and during the other period 2.5 l of semi-skimmed milk. Serum concentrations of calcium, phosphate, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25(OH)2D), osteocalcin, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (B-ALP) and cross-linked C-telopeptides (CTX), plasma intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) and urinary cross-linked N-telopeptides (NTX) were determined at baseline and endpoint of each intervention period. An increase in serum phosphate (P<0.001), 1,25(OH)2D (P<0.001), PTH (P=0.046) and osteocalcin (P<0.001) was observed in the cola period compared to the milk period. Also, bone resorption was significantly increased following the cola period, seen as increased serum CTX (P<0.001) and urinary NTX (P<0.001) compared to the milk period. No changes were observed in serum concentrations of calcium or B-ALP. This study demonstrates that over a 10-day period high intake of cola with a low-calcium diet induces increased bone turnover compared to a high intake of milk with a low-calcium diet. Thus, the trend towards a replacement of milk with cola and other soft drinks, which results in a low calcium intake, may negatively affect bone health as indicated by this short-term study.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Arterial stiffness in 10-year-old children: current and early determinants.

It has been suggested that CVD has its origins in early life. An impairment of fetal growth and early postnatal nutrition may have programming effects on cardiovascular physiology. In addition, traditional risk factors for CVD may initiate the atherosclerotic process during childhood. We explored the effect of fat intake, physical activity and lipid profile in childhood, and birth weight, growth during infancy and breast-feeding on arterial stiffness in a cohort study of ninety-three 10-year-old children followed during infancy and re-examined at the age of 10 years. Arterial stiffness in two arterial segments (aorto-radial and aorto-femoral) was measured as pulse wave velocity. Arterial stiffness was inversely associated with physical activity (a regression coefficient in cm/s (95 % CI) of -6.8 (-11.2, -2.4) and -3.9 (-6.9, -0.8) per h of high physical activity/d in the aorto-radial and aorto-femoral segments, respectively). Arterial stiffness was also positively associated with dietary fat energy percentage (3.1 (95 % CI 0.9, 5.2) and 1.8 (95 % CI 0.2, 3.2) per fat energy percentage in the aorto-radial and aorto-femoral segments, respectively) but was not related to body composition, insulin resistance or lipid profile. Arterial stiffness was also positively associated with duration of breast-feeding for the aorto-femoral segment only (2.1 (95 % CI 0.4, 3.7) per month) but was not associated with growth in early life. In conclusion, patterns of physical activity and diet, and history of breast-feeding in infancy, have an influence on the stiffness of the large arteries in children. The long-term effects of this are unknown.

Aorta↗
PubMed2005

Long-term calcium supplementation does not affect the iron status of 12-14-y-old girls.

BACKGROUND: Single-meal studies have established that calcium has an acute inhibitory effect on the absorption of iron. However, there is growing evidence that high calcium intakes do not compromise iron status. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated whether long-term calcium supplementation taken with the main meal affected biomarkers of iron status in adolescent girls with high requirements of both iron and calcium. DESIGN: The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of supplementation with 500 mg Ca/d for 1 y among 113 adolescent girls aged 13.2 +/- 0.4 y at enrollment. Participants were advised to take the supplement with their evening meal, which usually contributes the majority of dietary iron. Iron status was assessed at baseline and after 1 y of supplementation by measuring hemoglobin and serum concentrations of ferritin and transferrin receptors (TfRs). RESULTS: The mean (+/-SD) hemoglobin at enrollment was 134 +/- 9 g/L, geometric mean serum ferritin was 26.3 microg/L (interquartile range: 18.6-39.4 microg/L), and serum TfR was 4.19 mg/L (3.52-5.10 mg/L). Daily calcium supplementation had no effect on the least-squares mean concentrations of iron-status markers adjusted for their baseline values (hemoglobin: 136 and 134 g/L, P = 0.31; ferritin: 25.4 and 26.1 microg/L, P = 0.73; TfR: 4.1 and 4.4 mg/L, P = 0.12; and the ratio of TfR to ferritin: 160 and 161 in the calcium and placebo groups, respectively; P = 0.97). CONCLUSION: Although it remains to be shown in iron-deficient persons, long-term iron status does not seem to be compromised by high calcium intakes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Effect of garlic (Allium sativum) powder tablets on serum lipids, blood pressure and arterial stiffness in normo-lipidaemic volunteers: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Recent studies have cast doubt on the proposed lipid-lowering and blood pressure-lowering effects of garlic. We tested the effect of dried garlic (Allium sativum) powder on blood lipids, blood pressure and arterial stiffness in a 12-week randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Seventy-five healthy, normo-lipidaemic volunteers (men and women aged 40-60 years) were assigned to dried garlic powder tablets (10.8 mg alliin (3-(2-propenylsulfinyl)-L-alanine)/d, corresponding to about three garlic cloves) or placebo. Sixty-two subjects were eligible for the per-protocol analysis. The primary outcome measure was serum total cholesterol concentration. Secondary outcome measures were LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations, blood pressure and arterial stiffness (assessed by pulse wave velocity). No significant differences between the garlic and placebo groups were detected for any of the outcome measures. However, garlic powder was associated with a near-significant decrease (12 %) in triacylglycerol concentration (P=0.07). In conclusion, garlic powder tablets have no clinically relevant lipid-lowering and blood pressure-lowering effects in middle-aged, normo-lipidaemic individuals. The putative anti-atherosclerotic effect of garlic may be linked to risk markers other than blood lipids.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Protein intake at 9 mo of age is associated with body size but not with body fat in 10-y-old Danish children.

BACKGROUND: During the complementary feeding period, infants shift from a daily protein intake (PI) of approximately 1 g/kg body wt to an intake 3-4 times as high. A high PI probably has both endocrine and physiologic effects and may increase the risk of obesity. OBJECTIVE: We examined the associations between PI in infancy and body size and composition in late childhood. DESIGN: We conducted an observational cohort study of 142 Danish healthy term infants (63 boys) born during 1987-1988. At 9 mo of age, diet, weight, length, skinfold thicknesses, insulin-like growth factor I, and serum urea nitrogen were determined. At 10 y of age, 105 children (51 boys) participated in a follow-up study. Diet, weight, height, skinfold thicknesses, percentage of body fat (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), insulin-like growth factor I, and serum urea nitrogen were determined. RESULTS: At 9 mo of age, PI (in g/d and percentage of energy) was strongly correlated with body size (length and weight) but not with measures of adiposity. PI at 9 mo of age was positively associated with height and weight but not with percentage of body fat at 10 y of age. Inclusion of parental body size in the models did not change the associations, but the significant associations were attenuated when body size at 9 mo of age was included. CONCLUSIONS: PI in infancy seems to stimulate early growth. This might explain part of the association between early PI and body size at 10 y of age, but a continuous effect of protein on growth during childhood cannot be excluded. PI in infancy was not associated with any measure of body fat at 10 y of age.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2004

Animal protein intake, serum insulin-like growth factor I, and growth in healthy 2.5-y-old Danish children.

BACKGROUND: Studies from developing countries indicate that intake of animal protein, especially of milk, is associated with greater velocity of linear growth in childhood. Whether the same association exists in industrialized countries, where protein intake is high, is not clear. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to examine associations between protein intake, serum insulin-like growth factor I (sIGF-I) concentrations, and height in healthy children. DESIGN: We analyzed the associations between protein intake, sIGF-I concentrations, and height in 2.5-y-old children. Diet (7-d record) and sIGF-I (radioimmunoassay) data were available from 90 children (54 boys). RESULTS: The 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles of protein intake were 2.4, 2.9, and 4.0 g. kg(-1). d(-1), respectively; 63% was animal protein. In multiple linear regressions with adjustment for sex and weight, height (cm) was positively associated with intakes of animal protein (g/d) [0.10 +/- 0.038 (b +/- SE); P = 0.01] and milk (0.0047 +/- 0.002; P = 0.007), but not with those of vegetable protein or meat. The sIGF-I concentration was significantly associated with intakes of animal protein (1.4 +/- 0.53; P = 0.01) and milk (0.049 +/- 0.024; P = 0.045), but not with those of vegetable protein or meat. sIGF-I concentrations were positively associated with height (0.019 +/- 0.008; P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Milk intake was positively associated with sIGF-I concentrations and height. An increase in milk intake from 200 to 600 mL/d corresponded to a 30% increase in circulating IGF-I. This suggests that milk compounds have a stimulating effect on sIGF-I concentrations and, thereby, on growth.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Effect of habitual dietary calcium intake on calcium supplementation in 12-14-y-old girls.

BACKGROUND: There is no agreement on how much calcium young girls need for optimal bone mineralization. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated whether the effect of calcium supplementation on whole-body bone mineral accretion depends on habitual calcium intake. DESIGN: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 1-y calcium intervention study of girls aged 12-14 y selected from a larger group according to habitual calcium intake: subgroup A (n = 60) habitually consumed 1000-1307 mg/d (40th-60th percentile), and subgroup B (n = 53) habitually consumed <713 mg/d (<20th percentile). The girls from each subgroup were randomly assigned to receive either 500 mg Ca/d or placebo. Whole-body bone mineral content (BMC), bone area (BA), bone mineral density (BMD), and BMC adjusted for BA, height, and weight (size-adjusted BMC) were measured at baseline and after 1 y. RESULTS: There was no significant effect modification of baseline habitual calcium intake on the relation between calcium supplementation and height, weight, BMC, size-adjusted BMC, BA, BMD, or alkaline phosphatase. Calcium supplementation had an effect on BMD (0.8%; P = 0.049) and tended to show signs of an effect on size-adjusted BMC (0.5%; P = 0.08). CONCLUSION: A modest effect of calcium supplementation on BMD was shown. However, the effect was independent of habitual calcium intake.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Bone mineral status in children with cow milk allergy.

To investigate bone mineral status in children with verified cow milk allergy for more than 4 yr compared with a large reference population of 343 local healthy controls. Whole body bone mineral content (BMC), projected bone area and bone mineral density (BMD) were determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry in nine children (8-17 yr old, one girl and eight boys). All children had cow milk allergy for more than 4 yr. All children had asthma and was treated with corticosteroids. BMC and BMD were reduced for age (p < 0.01). Height for age was significantly reduced (p < 0.01), indicating 'short' bones. BMC for bone area was borderline reduced (p = 0.05), indicating reduced bone mineralization. The growth of the children was reduced compared with there parents and siblings (p < 0.01), and the bone age was retarded (mean 1.4 yr, p < 0.01). Calcium consumption calculated from food intake was about 25% of the recommended. All laboratory tests were normal. Short bones were the main reason for reduced BMC and BMD for age in children with cow milk allergy, but a borderline low BMC for bone area indicated reduced bone mineralization of the bones. A supplementation of calcium to children with cow milk allergy is recommended.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2003

Normal bone mineral content in young adults with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

OBJECTIVE: To assess bone mineral content (BMC) and body composition in adolescents and young adults with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. METHODS: BMC, anteroposterior-projected bone area (BA), bone mineral density, and fat mass percentage were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 18 patients aged 18-33 years (8 females and 10 males) with 21-hydroxylase deficiency using a Hologic QDR 1000/W densitometer. RESULTS: BMC and bone mineral density for age were significantly reduced at -1.2 standard deviation scores (SDS; range from -2.8 to +4.1) and -1.1 SDS (range from -3.2 to +2.6), respectively. The BA for height was significantly increased at +1.7 SDS (range from -0.5 to +4.8), and the BMC for BA was normal at 0.3 SDS (range from -2.0 to +3.6). The median final height was significantly reduced at -1.6 SDS (range from -5.6 to +0.3), and the fat mass percentage was significantly increased at +1.5 SDS (range from -1.0 to +5.0). CONCLUSION: Our study population of young adults with 21-hydroxylase deficiency had a short stature and broad bones with a normal BMC and had an increased fat mass percentage.

Adipose Tissue↗