Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 Concentrations Reflect Sex Differences in Mineral Metabolism and Growth in Early Infancy

Abstract

Background: The role of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) in the regulation of mineral homeostasis in early life is inadequately understood. We aimed to explore the effects of vitamin D supplementation on serum FGF23 and to elucidate longitudinal changes in FGF23, in addition to studying its association with mineral metabolism in early infancy.

Methods: Altogether 113 healthy infants received vitamin D3 10, 30 or 40 µg/day from age 0.5 to 3.0 months. Cord blood at birth and capillary blood samples at 3 months were analyzed for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, parathyroid hormone, phosphate, calcium and intact and C-terminal FGF23.

Results: In repeated-measures ANCOVA, intact FGF23 concentration increased with time (p < 0.001) and C-terminal FGF23 decreased (p < 0.001). At 3 months, girls had a higher concentration of intact FGF23 (51 vs. 26 pg/ml, p < 0.001) and a greater increase over time (x0394;FGF23 intact 45 vs. 16 pg/ml, p = 0.001) than boys. Vitamin D did not affect serum intact or C-terminal FGF23 concentrations. Girls showed a positive correlation between phosphate and intact FGF23 (p = 0.004), whereas in boys phosphate and C-terminal FGF23 correlated inversely (p = 0.006).

Conclusions: A substantial sex-related difference in intact FGF23 concentration exists during early infancy, possibly related to differences in skeletal growth between boys and girls.