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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 1990; 95(2): 275-278
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1210965
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© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Increased Serum Osteocalcin Levels in Elderly Females with Vitamin D Deficiency

P. Pietschmann, W. Woloszczuk* , H. Pietschmann**
  • Department of Medicine II, University of Vienna
  • * Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Clinical Endocrinology, Vienna
  • ** Department of Medicine III, Geriatric Hospital Lainz, Vienna/Austria
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Publication History

1989

Publication Date:
16 July 2009 (online)

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Summary

Serum levels of osteocalcin (OC), a 49 amino acid bone matrix protein, have been found to be a biochemical parameter of bone formation. In order to study bone metabolism in aging subjects we measured serum levels of OC, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 25 hydroxy-vitamin D (25 OH Vit D) in 36 institutionalized elderly females (age range: 80—93 years) and in 21 premenopausal control subjects. Serum levels of 25 OH Vit D were significantly decreased in the elderly subjects (p < 0.0001), whereas serum levels of OC and PTH were significantly higher in the elderly subjects than in the controls (p < 0.0025 and p < 0. 0001, respectively). Serum OC levels correlated significantly with the serum PTH levels (p < 0.009). Our data demonstrate that in elderly females with vitamin-D deficiency secondary hyperparathyroidism is associated with increased serum OC levels indicating an increased bone formation; these conditions might contribute to the bone disease of geriatric patients.

Key words

Osteocalcin - Bone GLA-protein - Secondary hyperparathyroidism - Vitamin-D-deficiency - Elderly subjects

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