Value of bone metabolic markers in osteoporosis diagnosis of middle -aged and senile people

[Objective] To discuss the characters of bone metabolic markers of middle-aged and old people along with the change of age and the value in clinical application with bone metabolic markers. [Methods] Bone mineral density (BMD) of anterior-posterior lumbar spines and fasting serum bone gla protein(BGP), serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and urinary pyridinoline(PYD) were tested in 410 patients. Then statistic biochemical criterion value was used in each age stage and different BMD groups with man and woman respectively. [Results] Middle-aged and senile men's BGP lowered down and the PYD/Cr rised with growth of age. Middle-aged and senile women's BGP and PYD/Cr significantly rised from 50 years old to 69 years old, but they showed the lowering trend after 70 years old, which approached to BGB and PYD/Cr of the senile men with the same age. Regardless of serum ALP of men or women in the normal range, there was no obvious difference in each age stage. BGP of middle-aged and senile men osteoporosis group and osteopenia group was lower than that of normal group while the PYD/Cr was higher than that of normal group, BGP and PYD/Cr of middle-aged and senile women osteoporosis group and osteopenia group were significantly higher than that of normal group without obvious difference for BGP and PYD/Cr of osteoporosis group and less bone mass group. There was no significant difference with serum ALP in each group. [Conclusions] The serum BGP and PYD/Cr are specific and sensitive markers for giving expression to bone formation and bone resorption, prior to the change of BMD. Therefore, to test serum BGP and PYD/Cr contributes to the early diagnosis of primary osteoporosis.