Study of bone turnover markers – Alkaline phosphatase and urinary hydroxyproline in postmenopausal women

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a major cause for morbidity in elderly and is further accentuated by the low levels of estrogen in postmenopausal women. Recognition of bone changes early by estimating the levels of bone turnover markers in the post menopausal women in comparison with pre menopausal women would aidin decreasing the disability caused due to fracture.To find the difference between the levels of ALP and urinary hydroxyproline in pre menopausal and postmenopausal women. In our study 45 post menopausal women and 45 premenopausal women attending the OPD for different reasons were recruited and after obtaining informedconsent, blood sample and urine samples were collected. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was estimated inserum sample and Hydroxy proline levels were estimated in the urine sample. Both the serum ALP and urinary hydroxyproline levels were significantly (p<0.001) elevated in postmenopausal women. Bone turnover markers play a role in assessing the bone health in post menopausal women and also aid in prognosis when an individual is on bone formation drugs.