Serum osteocalcin levels at 4 months of age were associated with neurodevelopment at 4 years of age in term-born children.

AIM

The hormone osteocalcin influenced neurodevelopment and cognition in mice models; this human study explored potential associations between total serum levels in human infants and neurodevelopment at 4 years of age.

METHODS

The data were based on two Swedish birth cohorts from 2008 to 2009. We followed 158 healthy full-term vaginal births (51% girls) by measuring serum osteocalcin in cord blood and at 4, 12 and 36 months. The values were compared with neurodevelopment tests at 4 years of age.

RESULTS

There was an association between osteocalcin at 4 months and later full-scale intelligence quotient (IQ; r 0.031, p < 0.05). Children with osteocalcin levels in the highest quartile scored 5.6 (95% confidence interval [1.3, 9.9]) points higher than those in the lowest quartile, with mean scores of 118.8 ± 8.8 and 113.2 ± 9.2 (p < 0.05). They also scored higher on gross motor skills (p < 0.05) and showed greater ability during the drawing trail test (p < 0.005). Cord levels of osteocalcin were negatively associated with processing speed and fine motor development at 4 years, but levels at 12 and 36 months were not associated with later neurodevelopment.

CONCLUSION

Osteocalcin levels in infancy appeared to be associated with later IQ and motor development, but more research is needed.