The broad aim of this project is to study the determinants of fracture risk in children using the ALSPAC cohort. ALSPAC is a large and unique dataset that recruited all pregnant women resident in Avon between April 1991 and December 1992. This has resulted in 14,000 children of whom 10,000 are under active follow-up. ALSPAC has comprehensive information from early pregnancy to now. From the time of the child's birth, many different aspects have been measured and collected on an annual basis. At aged 9, all children are undergoing a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to assess their bone mass.

This project has 4 specific aims: (1) to examine the association between bone mass measured at 9 years of age and fracture risk over the the following 2 years; (2) to examine the association between potential risk factors that are thought to affect fractures independently of bone mass (e.g. participation in sporting activities); (3) to examine the association between early life factors that are thought to effect bone accretion and subsequent peak bone mass, and lifetime fracture risk at aged 11 years (e.g. breastfeeding); and (4) to examine the association between possible endocrine determinants of early life growth (such as cord blood leptin) and lifetime fracture risk at aged 11.