Mineral Metabolism Research Unit

Current projects

Dietary calcium deficiency as a cause of rickets in developing countries
The Unit has previously described dietary calcium deficiency as a cause of rickets and bone deformities in children living in rural parts of South Africa. Now, in collaboration with the researchers at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, and the Mayo Clinic, the Unit is involved in studies to determine the pathogenesis of rickets in Jos, Nigeria. The ultimate objective is to establish effective methods for preventing the development of rickets in affected communities, and to treat children with active disease.

Factors influencing bone mass acquisition in children of different ethnic backgrounds in Johannesburg, during puberty and adolescence
The study sample is derived from the cohort of children participating in the Birth to Twenty study, which commenced in 1990. The children are currently being studied annually, and pubertal development, growth, and bone mass information are being collected, together with data related to dietary intakes, socio-economic status and physical activity. We hope that this study will help to identify why there are ethnic differences in postmenopausal fracture rates in South Africa.

Bone health in postmenopausal black women living in Soweto
This is a longitudinal research project, studying fracture rates, bone mass changes and changes in biochemical markers of bone turnover in a stratified sample of women living in Soweto. The study aims to provide an insight into the reasons for lower postmenopausal fracture rates in black South African women.

The treatment of children with severe osteogenesis imperfecta with oral or intravenous bisphosphonates
This study aims to compare the efficacy of oral alendronate versus intravenous pamidronate in the management of children with severe OI. Outcome measures comprise annualised fracture rates and changes in bone mass as measured by DXA at the lumbar spine.