Masami Tanaka
Objective: If bone absorption exceeds bone formation, bone mineral density decreases. If concentration of parathyroid hormone (PTH) is high and concentration of estrogen is low, bone absorption is accelerated. Deficiency in vitamin D and K leads to deterioration of bone quality, which leads to increased risk of fracture. We evaluated the relationship among age, sufficiency situation of vitamins, bone metabolic markers, and PTH according to man and woman in order to identify high risk group of fracture.
Methods: The subjects are 207 workers in Keio University who took staff medical examination. As markers evaluating the sufficiency of vitamins, 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) and undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) were measured. Bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP)-5b, intact PTH, calcium (Ca) and phosphate (P) were also measured. Then, correlation among 25 (OH) D, ucOC, BAP, TRACP-5b, intact PTH, Ca, P, and age were investigated according to man and woman.
Results: Both in man and woman, there was a strong positive correlation among ucOC, BAP, and TRACP-5b. In both sexes, there was a negative correlation between both Ca and intact PTH, and P and intact PTH. ucOC, BAP, and TRACP-5b correlated positively with age only in women.
Conclusions: Sex hormones might play small role in the correlation among ucOC, BAP, and TRACP-5b. On the other hand, in woman, estrogen deficiency might play important roles in the positive correlation between age and three parameters: ucOC, BAP, and TRACP-5b.