The calcaneal bone stiffness of 246 pregnant (periodically 3-4 months interval) and 92 puerperal women (3-4 months after delivery) was measured using the ultrasound method. At the same time, the factors, which were closely related to the bone metabolism, (milk intake, Vit. D receptor gene polymorphism, past obstetrical history, body mass index and physical exercise befor pregnancy, and Ca intake, rest and urinary E3 excretion during pregnancy, and nursing method after delivery, and re-menstruation), were analyzed on each woman. At the early stage of pregnancy, calcaneal bone stiffness of pregnant women showed negative correlation with age and the number of children to be born, but showed positive correlation with physical exercise in their childhood and BMI in the early stage of pregnancy. The calcaneal bone stiffness of the pregnant women decreased significantly during the progression of the pregnancy, and it is considered that the lack of Ca intake during pregnancy is one of the reasons. The calcaneal bone stiffness of the women who fed babies on their own breast milk was not statistically different to that of non-lactating women, since the mothers try to increase Ca intake in order to compensate for Ca loss due to secretion into breast milk. There was no significant difference between re-menstruation and maternal calcaneal bone stiffness at 3-4 months of puerperium. [Adv Obstet Gynecol 50 (1); 1---9, 1998(H10.1)]
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