Hertfordshire Intergenerational Study of Bone Health
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Hertfordshire Intergenerational Study of Bone Health
IRAS ID
246040
Contact name
Michael Clynes
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 1 days
Research summary
The way we grow in our mother’s womb and the first few years of life affects our risk of developing many diseases in later life, such as thinning of the bones (osteoporosis). While the genes we inherit from our parents are partly responsible for these observations, studies suggest that our genes are affected by our lifestyle in determining our risk of disease.
Recent studies have suggested that modification of genes, or epigenetics, plays an important role in the effect of early life on adult health. The effect of early life on the onset of adult diseases might be apparent in future generations as evidence suggests that this modification of our genes can be passed down through families.The HCS is a flagship cohort that has been used to demonstrate relationships between growth in early life and adult bone health. The purpose of this study is to explore whether early life exposures can impact on future musculoskeletal health and whether these effects are transmitted across generations. Descendants of the original HCS participants have been recruited to an intergenerational study. To date we have received responses from over 1000 HCS descendants and we have assembled over 100 families of 3 generations.
This proposed study seeks to extend the intergenerational study in HCS to explore the effect of the early life experiences of the F0 (grandparental) generation on the musculoskeletal health of offspring (F1) and grandchildren (F2). We will invite participants to attend a research clinic where they will undergo DXA scanning, pQCT, HRpQCT, grip-strength and physical performance testing. At the same visit we will ask participants if they would be willing to provide a blood sample that we will use to test for epigenetic changes.
REC name
West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/WM/0210
Date of REC Opinion
2 Aug 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion