Endocrine Abstracts

Rickets is the most common non-communicable disease in low and middle income countries and is re-emerging in countries such as the UK where it was once thought to be eradicated. Rickets is a bone disease which affects growing children and is caused by the undermineralisaton of the growth plate of long bones. Rickets can lead to osteomalacia, disabling bone deformities of the lower-limbs, stunting, increased fracture risk and in severe cases circulating bone mineral disturbance...

Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23), a phosphate-regulating hormone is elevated in hypophosphataemic syndromes and is a predictor of mortality in patients with kidney disease. Recent findings demonstrate iron deficiency as a potential mediator of FGF23 expression and murine studies have shown in utero effects of maternal iron deficiency on FGF23 and phosphate (P) metabolism and bone formation (Clinkenbeard, JBMR, 2013).The aim of the cu...