Paternal age is associated with offspring bone health—but not soft tissue composition or fracture: the Vitamin D in Pregnancy Study
Authors' conclusion
Advanced paternal age may affect offspring musculoskeletal outcomes in childhood. This warrants further investigation in larger cohorts.
Study context
- Population
- Offspring of mother-child pairs in the Vitamin D in Pregnancy study, southeastern Australia; born 2002–200489 analysed for DXA, 173 for fracture
- Participants
- 402 offspring
- Exposure
- Paternal age at childbirth
- Outcome
- Offspring bone and soft tissue composition (DXA: lean, fat, bone mass of spine and total body less head) and radiologically confirmed fractures
- Follow-up
- Age 11 years (DXA); fractures until July 19, 2019
Methodological detailsVitamin D in Pregnancy study
- Vitamin D in Pregnancy study
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Offspring bone measures per paternal age (adjusted) · age 11 years
Total body less head BMD, β (SE 0.001; p = 0.046)
- 0.002 g/cm²
Total body less head bone mineral content, β (SE 2.692; p = 0.033)
- 5.830 g
Spine bone mineral content, β (SE 0.0921; p = 0.023)
- 0.213 g
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | HR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fracture occurrence per paternal age · 16 years of ageNot associated | 0.98 (0.93–1.04) | P = 0.51 | |
| 0.512Hazard ratio (log scale) |
Original publication
Paternal age is associated with offspring bone health—but not soft tissue composition or fracture: the Vitamin D in Pregnancy Study. Osteoporos Int. Published 26 January 2026. doi:10.
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