Skeletal Maturation and Endocrine Health in Young Adults
EPIPEAK
Early Life Determinants of Skeletal Maturation and Endocrine Health in Young Adults - A Nationwide Birth Cohort Study
3 other identifiers
observational
2,000
1 country
9
Brief Summary
Diseases which can be the result of poor lifestyle choices in adult life, such as osteoporosis, obesity or poor muscle mass (sarcopenia) can also be driven by heritable genetic factors. More surprisingly, perhaps, the genes we inherit from our parents can be modified as a result of influences that affected the health and pregnancy of our mothers and hence the environment experienced in the womb and at birth. The purpose of this study is to investigate which factors are needed for good bone health and hormonal health in young adulthood as well as good muscle mass and normal fat mass, and how this is influenced by factors before birth and by childhood health. Specifically, we will measure bone mass and body composition in young adults (18 years of age) and measure hormones in blood and in hair samples. The clinical visits will be available nationwide at several centers to make participation swift and easy for participants. The changes (known as epigenetic modification) to genes at birth will be studied in dried blood spot samples stored from birth 18 years ago in the Danish Serum Institute and we will use national health registers to identify factors during pregnancy and in childhood that contribute to health effects at age 18.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for all trials
Started Nov 2024
Longer than P75 for all trials
9 active sites
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
Click on a node to explore related trials.
Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
July 15, 2024
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
July 19, 2024
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
November 11, 2024
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
September 1, 2026
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
September 1, 2031
January 10, 2025
January 1, 2025
1.8 years
July 15, 2024
January 9, 2025
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (6)
Bone Mineral Density of Spine, Hip and Whole-body
The Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) measures the bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine, hip and whole-body.
Baseline
Bone Mineral Density of Spine, Hip and Whole-body
The Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) measures the bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine, hip and whole-body.
2 years
Bone Area of Spine, Hip and Whole-body
The Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) measures the bone area (BA) of the spine, hip and whole-body.
Baseline
Bone Area of Spine, Hip and Whole-body
The Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) measures the bone area (BA) of the spine, hip and whole-body.
2 years
Bone Mineral Content of Spine, Hip and Whole-body
The Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) measures the bone mineral content (BMC) in the spine, hip and whole-body.
Baseline
Bone Mineral Content of Spine, Hip and Whole-body
The Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) measures the bone mineral content (BMC) in the spine, hip and whole-body.
2 years
Secondary Outcomes (23)
Total Body Lean Mass
Baseline
Total Body Lean Mass
2 years
Total Body Fat Mass
Baseline
Total Body Fat Mass
2 years
High-Resolution Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography of The Distal Radius and Tibia
Baseline
- +18 more secondary outcomes
Other Outcomes (3)
Self-reported Stress
Baseline
Self-reported Sleep
Baseline
Self-reported Hearing
Baseline
Study Arms (1)
Population sample
Random subsample of all 17-18-year-old individuals in Denmark, i.e. live births from year 2006 and 2007.
Eligibility Criteria
The Danish Personal Civil Registration will be used to identify all alive individuals born in Denmark in 2006 and 2007 using civil registration numbers. Invitations will be sent through secure e-mail (E-boks) in blocks until 2,000 participants have been reached. The study population will be selected with representative geographical distribution in Denmark.
You may qualify if:
- Individuals (n = 2000) born in Denmark in 2006 or 2007
- Are 18 years old and alive at the time of the clinical examination
You may not qualify if:
- Pregnancy or lactation
- No DBS samples available
- Lack of consent to use DBS samples or national health registries
- Emigration or disappearance
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- Holbaek Sygehuslead
- Aarhus University Hospitalcollaborator
- Aalborg University Hospitalcollaborator
- University of Southern Denmarkcollaborator
- University Hospital Bispebjerg and Frederiksbergcollaborator
- Zealand University Hospitalcollaborator
- Odense University Hospitalcollaborator
- Rigshospitalet, Denmarkcollaborator
- Statens Serum Institutcollaborator
- Hvidovre University Hospitalcollaborator
Study Sites (9)
Aalborg University Hospital, Department of Endocrinology
Aalborg, 9000, Denmark
Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Endocrinology
Aarhus, 8200, Denmark
Rigshospitalet, Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Endocrinology
Copenhagen, 2200, Denmark
Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, EEK, Parker Institute
Frederiksberg, 2000, Denmark
Holbæk Hospital, Department of Medicine
Holbæk, 4300, Denmark
Hvidovre Hospital, Department of Endocrinology
Hvidovre, 2650, Denmark
Zealand University Hospital, Department of Medicine
Køge, 4600, Denmark
Odense University Hospital, Department of Endocrinology
Odense, 5000, Denmark
University of Southern Denmark, Department of Clinical Research
Odense, 5000, Denmark
Related Publications (29)
Yu XH, Wei YY, Zeng P, Lei SF. Birth weight is positively associated with adult osteoporosis risk: observational and Mendelian randomization studies. J Bone Miner Res. 2021 Aug;36(8):1469-1480. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.4316. Epub 2021 Jun 9.
PMID: 34105796BACKGROUNDCurtis EM, Fuggle NR, Cooper C, Harvey NC. Epigenetic regulation of bone mass. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022 Mar;36(2):101612. doi: 10.1016/j.beem.2021.101612. Epub 2022 Jan 4.
PMID: 35120798BACKGROUNDKrstic N, Bishop N, Curtis B, Cooper C, Harvey N, Lilycrop K, Murray R, Owen R, Reilly G, Skerry T, Borg S. Early life vitamin D depletion and mechanical loading determine methylation changes in the RUNX2, RXRA, and osterix promoters in mice. Genes Nutr. 2022 May 26;17(1):7. doi: 10.1186/s12263-022-00711-0.
PMID: 35619053BACKGROUNDReppe S, Lien TG, Hsu YH, Gautvik VT, Olstad OK, Yu R, Bakke HG, Lyle R, Kringen MK, Glad IK, Gautvik KM. Distinct DNA methylation profiles in bone and blood of osteoporotic and healthy postmenopausal women. Epigenetics. 2017 Aug;12(8):674-687. doi: 10.1080/15592294.2017.1345832. Epub 2017 Jun 26.
PMID: 28650214BACKGROUNDWilliams GR, Bassett JHD. Thyroid diseases and bone health. J Endocrinol Invest. 2018 Jan;41(1):99-109. doi: 10.1007/s40618-017-0753-4. Epub 2017 Aug 29.
PMID: 28853052BACKGROUNDCardoso I, Specht IO, Thorsteinsdottir F, Thorbek MJ, Keller A, Stougaard M, Cohen AS, Handel MN, Kristensen LE, Heitmann BL. Vitamin D Concentrations at Birth and the Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Early Adulthood: A Danish Population-Based Case-Cohort Study. Nutrients. 2022 Jan 20;14(3):447. doi: 10.3390/nu14030447.
PMID: 35276806BACKGROUNDHandel MN, Frederiksen P, Cohen A, Cooper C, Heitmann BL, Abrahamsen B. Neonatal vitamin D status from archived dried blood spots and future risk of fractures in childhood: results from the D-tect study, a population-based case-cohort study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2017 Jul;106(1):155-161. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.116.145599. Epub 2017 May 17.
PMID: 28515065BACKGROUNDJensen CB, Lundqvist M, Sorensen TIA, Heitmann BL. Neonatal Vitamin D Levels in Relation to Risk of Overweight at 7 Years in the Danish D-Tect Case-Cohort Study. Obes Facts. 2017;10(3):273-283. doi: 10.1159/000471881. Epub 2017 Jun 10.
PMID: 28601865BACKGROUNDKeller A, Thorsteinsdottir F, Stougaard M, Cardoso I, Frederiksen P, Cohen AS, Vaag A, Jacobsen R, Heitmann BL. Vitamin D concentrations from neonatal dried blood spots and the risk of early-onset type 2 diabetes in the Danish D-tect case-cohort study. Diabetologia. 2021 Jul;64(7):1572-1582. doi: 10.1007/s00125-021-05450-2. Epub 2021 May 24.
PMID: 34028586BACKGROUNDKeller A, Frederiksen P, Handel MN, Jacobsen R, McGrath JJ, Cohen AS, Heitmann BL. Environmental and individual predictors of 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in Denmark measured from neonatal dried blood spots: the D-tect study. Br J Nutr. 2019 Mar 14;121(5):567-575. doi: 10.1017/S0007114518003604. Epub 2019 Jan 30.
PMID: 30526709BACKGROUNDKeller A, Handel MN, Frederiksen P, Jacobsen R, Cohen AS, McGrath JJ, Heitmann BL. Concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D from neonatal dried blood spots and the relation to gestational age, birth weight and Ponderal Index: the D-tect study. Br J Nutr. 2018 Jun;119(12):1416-1423. doi: 10.1017/S0007114518000879. Epub 2018 Apr 25.
PMID: 29690937BACKGROUNDThorsteinsdottir F, Cardoso I, Keller A, Stougaard M, Frederiksen P, Cohen AS, Maslova E, Jacobsen R, Backer V, Heitmann BL. Neonatal Vitamin D Status and Risk of Asthma in Childhood: Results from the D-Tect Study. Nutrients. 2020 Mar 21;12(3):842. doi: 10.3390/nu12030842.
PMID: 32245170BACKGROUNDDugue PA, English DR, MacInnis RJ, Jung CH, Bassett JK, FitzGerald LM, Wong EM, Joo JE, Hopper JL, Southey MC, Giles GG, Milne RL. Reliability of DNA methylation measures from dried blood spots and mononuclear cells using the HumanMethylation450k BeadArray. Sci Rep. 2016 Jul 26;6:30317. doi: 10.1038/srep30317.
PMID: 27457678BACKGROUNDStaunstrup NH, Starnawska A, Nyegaard M, Christiansen L, Nielsen AL, Borglum A, Mors O. Genome-wide DNA methylation profiling with MeDIP-seq using archived dried blood spots. Clin Epigenetics. 2016 Jul 26;8:81. doi: 10.1186/s13148-016-0242-1. eCollection 2016.
PMID: 27462375BACKGROUNDGhantous A, Saffery R, Cros MP, Ponsonby AL, Hirschfeld S, Kasten C, Dwyer T, Herceg Z, Hernandez-Vargas H. Optimized DNA extraction from neonatal dried blood spots: application in methylome profiling. BMC Biotechnol. 2014 Jul 1;14:60. doi: 10.1186/1472-6750-14-60.
PMID: 24980254BACKGROUNDWeaver CM, Gordon CM, Janz KF, Kalkwarf HJ, Lappe JM, Lewis R, O'Karma M, Wallace TC, Zemel BS. The National Osteoporosis Foundation's position statement on peak bone mass development and lifestyle factors: a systematic review and implementation recommendations. Osteoporos Int. 2016 Apr;27(4):1281-1386. doi: 10.1007/s00198-015-3440-3. Epub 2016 Feb 8.
PMID: 26856587BACKGROUNDHannon E, Schendel D, Ladd-Acosta C, Grove J, Hansen CS, Hougaard DM, Bresnahan M, Mors O, Hollegaard MV, Baekvad-Hansen M, Hornig M, Mortensen PB, Borglum AD, Werge T, Pedersen MG, Nordentoft M; iPSYCH-Broad ASD Group; Buxbaum JD, Daniele Fallin M, Bybjerg-Grauholm J, Reichenberg A, Mill J. Variable DNA methylation in neonates mediates the association between prenatal smoking and birth weight. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2019 Apr 15;374(1770):20180120. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0120.
PMID: 30966880BACKGROUNDGicquel C, El-Osta A, Le Bouc Y. Epigenetic regulation and fetal programming. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Feb;22(1):1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.beem.2007.07.009.
PMID: 18279777BACKGROUNDJensen KH, Riis KR, Abrahamsen B, Handel MN. Nutrients, Diet, and Other Factors in Prenatal Life and Bone Health in Young Adults: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies. Nutrients. 2020 Sep 19;12(9):2866. doi: 10.3390/nu12092866.
PMID: 32961712BACKGROUNDHarvey N, Dennison E, Cooper C. Osteoporosis: a lifecourse approach. J Bone Miner Res. 2014 Sep;29(9):1917-25. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.2286.
PMID: 24861883BACKGROUNDGluckman PD, Hanson MA, Cooper C, Thornburg KL. Effect of in utero and early-life conditions on adult health and disease. N Engl J Med. 2008 Jul 3;359(1):61-73. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra0708473. No abstract available.
PMID: 18596274BACKGROUNDLillycrop K, Murray R, Cheong C, Teh AL, Clarke-Harris R, Barton S, Costello P, Garratt E, Cook E, Titcombe P, Shunmuganathan B, Liew SJ, Chua YC, Lin X, Wu Y, Burdge GC, Cooper C, Inskip HM, Karnani N, Hopkins JC, Childs CE, Chavez CP, Calder PC, Yap F, Lee YS, Chong YS, Melton PE, Beilin L, Huang RC, Gluckman PD, Harvey N, Hanson MA, Holbrook JD; EpiGen Consortium; Godfrey KM. ANRIL Promoter DNA Methylation: A Perinatal Marker for Later Adiposity. EBioMedicine. 2017 May;19:60-72. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2017.03.037. Epub 2017 Apr 26.
PMID: 28473239BACKGROUNDGodfrey KM, Costello PM, Lillycrop KA. The developmental environment, epigenetic biomarkers and long-term health. J Dev Orig Health Dis. 2015 Oct;6(5):399-406. doi: 10.1017/S204017441500121X. Epub 2015 May 28.
PMID: 26017068BACKGROUNDBlock T, El-Osta A. Epigenetic programming, early life nutrition and the risk of metabolic disease. Atherosclerosis. 2017 Nov;266:31-40. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2017.09.003. Epub 2017 Sep 5.
PMID: 28950165BACKGROUNDGodfrey KM, Costello PM, Lillycrop KA. Development, Epigenetics and Metabolic Programming. Nestle Nutr Inst Workshop Ser. 2016;85:71-80. doi: 10.1159/000439488. Epub 2016 Apr 18.
PMID: 27088334BACKGROUNDGodfrey KM, Sheppard A, Gluckman PD, Lillycrop KA, Burdge GC, McLean C, Rodford J, Slater-Jefferies JL, Garratt E, Crozier SR, Emerald BS, Gale CR, Inskip HM, Cooper C, Hanson MA. Epigenetic gene promoter methylation at birth is associated with child's later adiposity. Diabetes. 2011 May;60(5):1528-34. doi: 10.2337/db10-0979. Epub 2011 Apr 6.
PMID: 21471513BACKGROUNDGodfrey KM, Lillycrop KA, Burdge GC, Gluckman PD, Hanson MA. Epigenetic mechanisms and the mismatch concept of the developmental origins of health and disease. Pediatr Res. 2007 May;61(5 Pt 2):5R-10R. doi: 10.1203/pdr.0b013e318045bedb.
PMID: 17413851BACKGROUNDHollegaard MV, Grauholm J, Norgaard-Pedersen B, Hougaard DM. DNA methylome profiling using neonatal dried blood spot samples: a proof-of-principle study. Mol Genet Metab. 2013 Apr;108(4):225-31. doi: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2013.01.016. Epub 2013 Feb 1.
PMID: 23422032BACKGROUNDHandel MN, Jorgensen NR, Bybjerg-Grauholm J, Jansen RB, Eiken P, Tofteng CL, Hermann AP, Bach-Mortensen P, Heitmann BL, Rubin KH, Langdahl BL, Vestergaard P, Abrahamsen B. Early life determinants of skeletal maturation, body composition and endocrine health in young adults (EPIPEAK): protocol for a nationwide birth cohort study. BMJ Open. 2025 Oct 23;15(10):e101632. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-101632.
PMID: 41130671DERIVED
Biospecimen
Blood will be drawn for plasma analyses for endocrine status and biomarkers of bone metabolism (outcomes). Hair samples will be collected for cortisol (outcomes). Already collected neonatal blood samples will be measured for genetic and epigenetic profiles (predictors).
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- STUDY CHAIR
Bo Abrahamsen, MD, PhD
OPEN, University of Southern Denmark, Odense and Department of Medicine 1, Holbæk Hospital, Holbæk
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Katrine H Rubin, MHS, PhD
OPEN, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark and Odense University Hospital
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Bente Langdahl, MD, PhD
Department of Clinical Medicine and Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Aarhus University
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Peter Vestergaard, MD, PhD
Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University and Department of Endocrinology, Aalborg University Hospital
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Berit L Heitmann, DMD, PhD
The Parker Institute, Frederiksberg Hospital, Frederiksberg
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Mina N Händel, Msc, PhD
The Parker Institute, Frederiksberg Hospital, Frederiksberg
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Charlotte L Tofteng, MD, PhD
Department of CIinical Medicine, Endocrinology, Zealand University Hospital, Køge
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Pernille Bach-Mortensen, MD, PhD
Department of Endocrinology, Amager and Hvidovre Hospital, Hvidovre
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Pernille Hermann, MD, PhD
Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Odense
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Niklas R Jørgensen, MD, PhD
Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Centre of Diagnostic Investigation,Rigshospitalet Copenhagen
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Jonas Bybjerg-Grauholm, MSE
Danish Center for Neonatal Screening, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen
Study Design
- Study Type
- observational
- Observational Model
- COHORT
- Time Perspective
- PROSPECTIVE
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
July 15, 2024
First Posted
July 19, 2024
Study Start
November 11, 2024
Primary Completion (Estimated)
September 1, 2026
Study Completion (Estimated)
September 1, 2031
Last Updated
January 10, 2025
Record last verified: 2025-01