Different Mechanism of Bone Loss in Ageing Women and Men in Khon Kaen Province
LA-OR CHAILURKIT, Ph.D.*, CHATLERT PONGCHAIYAKUL, M.D.***, SOMSRI CHAROENKIATKUL, D.Sc. **, VONGSVAT KOSULWAT,Ph.D.**, NIPA ROJROONGWASINKUL, M.Sc.**, RAJATA RAJATANAVIN, M.D.*
Affiliation : * Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, ** Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, *** Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakarin Hospital, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
The changes of vitamin D status and biochemical markers of bone turnover have been
reported with aging. In this study we determined age-related levels of vitamin D and biochemical
markers of bone turnover in the general adult population between the ages of 20 and 84 years who
were living in Khon Kaen province in northeastern Thailand. Serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D was
determined as an indicator of vitamin D status. Serum total alkaline phosphatase and N-terminal
mid fragment osteocalcin were measured as biochemical markers of bone formation and serum C-
terminal fragment of type I collagen was measured as a marker of bone resorption.
The levels of serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D were high in the Khon Kaen population. Men
had higher levels of 25 hydroxyvitamin D than did women. However, there were no changes with
age in either sex. In women, all biochemical markers of bone turnover increased with age after the
fourth decade. The sharp increase was observed in the sixth decade which was around the meno-
pausal age. In contrast, in men all biochemical markers of bone turnover except serum total alkaline
phosphatase had a tendency to decrease with age.
Conclusion : There was no evidence of vitamin D deficiency in a Khon Kaen population.
In addition, serum vitamin D levels did not decline with ageing. Women and men showed different
changes of biochemical markers of bone turnover with ageing indicating gender difference in the
pathogenesis of osteoporosis.
Keywords : Vitamin D, Bone Markers, Bone Loss
