Bone metabolism in relation to puberty among North Indian boys

Abstract

Adolescence is a critical time for peak bone mass accrual. During puberty the skeletal growth results in the process of bone modeling, remodeling and longitudinal growth which leads to considerable changes in the levels of bone formation and resorption markers. The study was aimed to analyze the levels of bone markers, bone density and their relation to puberty amongst our population. Eighty four healthy boys with a mean age of 14.36+1.97 years (range 11–18 yrs) were evaluated. The bone metabolism markers measured by ELISA were serum osteocalcin (BGP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), carboxyterminal propeptide of type I collagen (CICP), deoxypyridinoline (DPD). Bone density at forearm and calcaneum were measured by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry. Bone formation and resorption markers were raised during all stages of puberty, peaking at stage 3 and declining gradually from stages 4 and 5 onwards whereas the mean bone density continued to increase even beyond stage 3 of puberty. We observed a positive correlation between age, height and weight and bone density. Significant inverse correlations were seen between bone formation markers and bone density at both sites. No correlation was observed between bone density and bone resorption markers. During puberty bone mineral density increases significantly. Though significant positive correlation was observed between age, height and weight, bone density, age and weight remain the best predictors of bone mineral density at distal forearm and calcaneum.

Keywords

Bone markers - bone mineral density - puberty - dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)