Effect of bone mineral density and urinary free deoxypyridinoline in healthy Japanese women

The age distribution of urinary free deoxypyridinoline (free-Dpyr) was investigated in 242 healthy women, aged 18 to 78 years. Moreover, we evaluated the relationship between free-Dpyr and BMD (lumbar spine and calcaneus) or a history of fracture. BMD decreased with advancing age. C-BMD showed a significant negative correlation with age, not only in the 50-79-year age group but also the 20-49-year age group. Concerning free-Dpyr levels, no significant difference among the 20-49-year age group was found, but those in the 50-79-year age group were significantly higher than those in the 20-49-year age group. Women with both a low value of lumbar spine BMD and high free Dpyr levels were at greater risk of fracture than those with only low BMD or high bone resorption. These findings suggest that combined measurement of BMD with free Dpyr is useful for improving the assessment of bone health and the risk of fracture in women.