[Time course changes in bone metabolic markers after menopause--a cross-sectional study].

To clarify the clinical significance of the measurement of bone metabolic markers in postmenopausal subjects, a cross-sectional study of 546 healthy women (215 premenopausal, 164 bilateral oophorectomized and 167 natural menopausal) was conducted. All the subjects had their lumbar bone (L2-4 mineral density measured by means of DEXA. Bone metabolic markers (bone formation markers: serum alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin and intact osteocalcin; bone resorption markers: urine excretion of hydroxyproline, pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline) were also evaluated. After dividing the subjects according to the length of time after menopause, the time course changes in the Z-score values for bone metabolic markers were calculated. A triphasic pattern of lumbar bone loss was seen: there was a rapid phase in the first 5 years after menopause, a plateau phase in the second 5 years and a slow phase beginning 10 years menopause. The changes in bone metabolic markers coincided closely with the rapid phase of bone loss. In the plateau and slow phases, there were no markers which significant changed greatly. One possible clinical application of bone metabolic markers is in assessing the results of treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis.