Connective tissue dysplasia: a risk factor for osteopenia in children and adolescents

Abstract

Introduction: in addition to genetic predisposition, a significant exogenous factor in the formation of Undifferentiated connective tissue dysplasia (UDCTD) is the deficiency of osteotropic micronutrients such as vitamins (D, A, C, E, K); macroelements (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium), trace elements (copper, manganese, zinc, boron, selenium, silicon), so essential for the connective tissue matrix and, above all, for bone tissue. A small number of studies of osteotropic micronutrients and the state of bone tissue in adolescents with UDCTD served as the basis for this comprehensive study.Materials: a randomized study of 130 adolescents aged 10–16 years in the 1–2 health groups. The first group (primary) was 90 subjects with detected UDCTD. The second group (comparative) was 40 people with no signs of dysplasia. Methods: included the definition of: vitamin D – 25(ON)D: trace elements; calcium ductation: spinal column densitometry at LII–LIV level; physical development and psycho-emotional stress levels.Availability disorders of 25(OH)D, low calcium consumption, magnesium deficiency, and shifts in micronutrient content correlated with densitometric data showing a 75% decrease BMD in Group 1 adolescents, while in Group 2 only 27.5%.The results of a comprehensive study showed that osteotropic micronutrient deficiency is a serious exogenous trigger for the development and progression of UDCTD with osteopenia/osteoporosis formation. Osteopenia/osteoporosis, low physical development, disorders in the psycho-emotional sphere indicate the seriousness of the prognosis of UDCTD in adolescents.

Keywords

• connective tissue dysplasia
• osteotropic micronutrients
• osteopenia
• osteoporosis
• macro- and microelements
• vitamin d