Relationships between Markers of Bone Metabolism Used in the Treatment of Osteoporosis

Various markers of bone metabolism are used in the treatment of osteoporosis as they can help assess the condition of bony tissue/bone metabolism and can help predict the likelihood of fractures and bone loss in the near future. We investigated correlations between various bone metabolism markers to ascertain which could be used as a universal marker of bone metabolism and its associated care. Subjects comprised 144 female patients treated for osteoporosis at this facility between January and December 2009, in whom the following bone metabolism markers were measured on the same day: BAP, urine NTX, OC, ucOC, and TRACP-5b. The mean age of the subjects was 71.2 years. All subjects were analyzed as an entire group (total group), and subjects were also divided into 2 groups and analyzed based on whether they were using an osteoporosis drug or not. Subjects currently being treated were included in the treated group (n=113; mean age: 71.9 years). Subjects with no treatment experience were included in the untreated group (n=31; mean age: 68.6 years). In the total group and treated group, significant correlations were revealed between BAP, urine NTX, OC, ucOC, and TRACP-5b. In the untreated group, no correlation was observed between BAP and ucOC, but correlations between BAP, urine NTX, OC, ucOC, and TRACP-5b were observed. ucOC is a marker of bone metabolism, and is also an indicator of the state of vitamin K intake. Based on the correlations with both bone resorption markers and osteoplastic markers found in this study, ucOC was found to be the best universal marker to use in the clinical setting.