Young adults who were born before 28 weeks or with extremely low birthweight may have impaired bone health many years later, compared with their full-term peers, according to an Australian study.

At age 25, the premature/low birthweight group had significantly lower areal bone-mineral density and Z-score in the femoral neck as well as lower total hip Z-score than age-matched, normal-birthweight individuals, researchers report in Bone.

Lead author Dr Anjali Haikerwal of the Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, said young adults born preterm, their healthcare providers and family members should be informed about the importance of optimising, and perhaps monitoring, bone health.

“Effective strategies for healthy lifestyle modifications, in particular nutrition and outdoor physical activity that maximise bone health, should be advocated early in life,” Dr Haikerwal said.