Bone mass and bone metabolism markers during adolescence: The HELENA Study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The assessment of bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) status in children and adolescents is important for health and the prevention of diseases. Bone metabolic activity could provide early information on bone mass development. Our aim was to describe bone mass and metabolism markers according to age and Tanner stage in adolescents. METHODS: Spanish adolescents (n = 345; 168 males and 177 females) aged 12.5-17.5 years participated in this cross-sectional study. Body composition variables were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Serum osteocalcin (n = 101), aminoterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (n = 92) and ß-isomerized C-telopeptides (ß-CTX, n = 65) and urine samples (ß-CTX; n = 237) were analyzed by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. RESULTS: Analysis of covariance showed that females had higher values for BMC and BMD in most of the regions. Both males and females had a significant decrease in bone markers while sexual maturation increases (all p < 0.05). Males had an increased bone turnover compared to females (all p < 0.05, except for urine ß-CTX in Tanner ≤IV). CONCLUSION: Our results support the evidence of dimorphic site-specific bone accretion between sexes and show an increased bone turnover in males, suggesting higher metabolic activity.

Marcadores del metabolismo óseo en adolescentes españoles. Estudio HELENA / Bone metabolism markers in Spanish adolescents. The HELENA Study

Objetivo del trabajo: Describir el metabolismo óseo a lo largo de la adolescencia, según la edad y el desarrollo puberal en adolescentes. Material (pacientes) y método: El análisis de los marcadores de metabolismo óseo se realizó a partir de muestras de suero con osteocalcina (OC; n=95), propeptido aminoterminal del procolágeno de tipo 1 (P1NP; n=87) y C-telopépidos Beta-isomerizados (Beta-CTX; n=65)] y de orina [Beta-CTX (n=209)] que se analizaron mediante inmunoensayo de electroquimioluminiscencia. Resultados: La concentración de los marcadores de formación y resorción ósea eran más altos en los chicos y las chicas menos desarrollados comparado con los grupos de mayor desarrollo puberal (p < 0.05), excepto ‚-CTX (en orina) en chicos (p = 0,105). Sin embargo, la osteocalcina no mostró una tendencia significativa en chicos (p = 0.264) al agrupar por edades. Los chicos adolescentes presentaron un remodelado óseo superior al de las chicas. Conclusiones: Los chicos adolescentes presentaron un remodelado óseo superior al de las chicas, lo que sugiere una mayor actividad metabólica de éstos durante la adolescencia (AU)

Objetives: To describe bone metabolism throughout adolescence, according to age and pubertal development. Material and methods: Bone metabolism markers were analysed on serum [Osteocalcin (n=95), aminoterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP, n=87) and ‚-isomerised C-telopeptides (Beta-CTX, n=65)] and urine samples [Beta-CTX (n=209)] by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Results: bone formation and resorption biomarkers concentration were higher in males and females with lower pubertal development compared with those groups with higher development (p < 0.05), except urine ‚- CTX in males (p = 0,105). Osteocalcin did not show a significant trend in males (p = 0.264) when grouping by age. Males had an increased bone turnover compared to females. Conclusions: Males showed an increased bone turnover compared to females, suggesting higher metabolic activity during adolescence (AU)