Grandfathers responsible for weak bones in grandchildren: Study

The researchers from the Sahlgrenska Academy of the University of Gothenburg have found a correlation between hip fractures in grandfathers and low bone density and reduced bone size in their grandsons.

The findings of the study could pave way for better diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and also encourage medical professionals to take into account the family history of the patient while gauging his bone strength.

First-of-its kind study
For the purpose of the study, researchers analyzed 3,700 grandparents and their grandsons.

The analysis revealed that all the 270 grandsons who had low bone density had a family history of hip fractures in their grandparents.

"This is the first time this risk factor for low bone mass has been demonstrated across two generations," lead researcher and associate professor at the Academy, Mattias Lorentzon said of the findings.

Low bone density and smaller bones
The researchers divided the participants who had low bone density into two groups.

"In the first, we looked at those who had a grandmother who had broken a hip. In the second, we looked at whether a grandfather had suffered a hip fracture," Lorentzon said.

Men whose male relative had suffered a fracture had up to five percent less bone density and four percent smaller bones vis-à-vis those whose relative did not have a fracture.

A 10 percent less bone density increases the chances of contracting fractures by threefold, opined the researchers.

The study also looked at other threat factors of osteoporosis like smoking, calcium intake, age, gender, weight, physical activity etc.

"Despite other risk factors, we could see that bone size is reduced and that this leads to lower bone density, which together means low bone mass, a risk factor for osteoporosis,” noted Lorentzon.

“In other words, they run a greater risk of fractures in the future than their peers," Lorentzon added.

The study also established that grandfathers were accountable for the bone density in grandchildren and not grandmothers.

The study has been published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.