This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by JOHANSEN, J. S. Articles by SKAKKEBÆK, N. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by JOHANSEN, J. S. Articles by SKAKKEBÆK, N. E.

Serum Bone Gla-Protein as a Marker of Bone Growth in Children and Adolescents: Correlation With Age, Height, Serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor I, and Serum Testosterone^*

Department of Clinical Chemistry, Glostrup Hospital San Diego, California 92093
The Department of Pediatrics, Huidoure Hospital (A.G., C.T.N., N.E.S.), Uniuersity of Copenhagen Copenhagen, Denmark
The Department of Biology, Uniuersity of California (P.A.P.) San Diego, California 92093

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Julia Sidenius Johansen, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, DK-2600 Glostrup, Denmark.

Serum bone Gla-protein (BGP) was determined by RIA in 450 normal children (229 girls and 221 boys, aged 6–19 yr). Serum BGP concentrations changed in relation to age and sex with a pattern that resembles the height velocity curves for children. The increase in serum BGP occurred at the expected age of the growth spurt in both sexes, and the peak values occurred at the age of 12 yr in girls [mean, 49.2 ± 5.6 (±SE) µg/ L] and 14 yr in boys (64.0 ± 6.3 µg/L). In the boys aged 10–14 yr and in the girls aged 9–12 yr, serum BGP correlated significantly with serum insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), serum testosterone, age, and height. When the interrelationship was analyzed by means of partial correlation, with age held constant, serum BGP still correlated significantly with the other parameters, but when height was fixed there was only a correlation with serum IGF-I.

In children with untreated central precocious puberty, the mean serum BGP concentration was significantly higher than in age-matched normal children [mean, 61.4 ± 31.7 (±SD) vs. 29.0 ± 10.3 µg/L; P < 0.001]. Serum BGP values decreased significantly in these patients during 1 yr of treatment with a LHRH analog (buserelin) and cyproterone acetate.

We conclude that serum BGP is a sensitive marker of bone growth in normal children and in children with increased growth velocity. Repeated measurements may provide useful information in the diagnosis and treatment of children with disturbances in bone turnover

^* The IGF-I study was supported by grants from the Danish Medical Research Counsil (12-5543 and 12-7462); The BGP investigation was supported by grants from Fonden til Leegevidenskabens Fremme. Presented in part at the International Symposium on Osteoporosis, Aalborg, Denmark, September 27–October 2, 1987, and published in part in the proceedings of that symposium.

Received December 7, 1987.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. M. Hill, M. Braun, M. Kern, B. R. Martin, J. W. Navalta, D. A. Sedlock, L. McCabe, G. P. McCabe, M. Peacock, and C. M. Weaver Predictors of Calcium Retention in Adolescent Boys J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2008; 93(12): 4743 - 4748. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Leger, I. Mercat, C. Alberti, D. Chevenne, P. Armoogum, J. Tichet, and P. Czernichow The relationship between the GH/IGF-I axis and serum markers of bone turnover metabolism in healthy children Eur. J. Endocrinol., November 1, 2007; 157(5): 685 - 692. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Rauchenzauner, A. Schmid, P. Heinz-Erian, K. Kapelari, G. Falkensammer, A. Griesmacher, G. Finkenstedt, and W. Hogler Sex- and Age-Specific Reference Curves for Serum Markers of Bone Turnover in Healthy Children from 2 Months to 18 Years J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2007; 92(2): 443 - 449. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. O. Sanders, R. H. Browne, S. J. McConnell, S. A. Margraf, T. E. Cooney, and D. N. Finegold Maturity Assessment and Curve Progression in Girls with Idiopathic Scoliosis J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., January 1, 2007; 89(1): 64 - 73. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Fujita, J. Ohtani, M. Shigekawa, T. Kawata, M. Kaku, S. Kohno, M. Motokawa, Y. Tohma, and K. Tanne Influence of sex hormone disturbances on the internal structure of the mandible in newborn mice Eur J Orthod, April 1, 2006; 28(2): 190 - 194. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Eastell Role of oestrogen in the regulation of bone turnover at the menarche J. Endocrinol., May 1, 2005; 185(2): 223 - 234. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. C. Henderson, R. K. Lark, M. J. Gurka, G. Worley, E. B. Fung, M. Conaway, V. A. Stallings, and R. D. Stevenson Bone Density and Metabolism in Children and Adolescents With Moderate to Severe Cerebral Palsy Pediatrics, July 1, 2002; 110(1): e5 - 5. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. M. Ott, D. Scholes, A. Z. LaCroix, L. E. Ichikawa, C. K. Yoshida, and W. E. Barlow Effects of Contraceptive Use on Bone Biochemical Markers in Young Women J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2001; 86(1): 179 - 185. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				C. Massafra, C. De Felice, D. P. Agnusdei, D. Gioia, and F. Bagnoli Androgens and Osteocalcin during the Menstrual Cycle J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 1999; 84(3): 971 - 974. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				K.-S. Tsai, M.-H. Jang, S. H.-J. Hsu, W.-C. Cheng, and M.-H. Chang Bone Alkaline Phosphatase Isoenzyme and Carboxy-Terminal Propeptide of Type-I Procollagen in Healthy Chinese Girls and Boys Clin. Chem., January 1, 1999; 45(1): 136 - 138. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Cioffi, A. M. Molinari, P. Gazzerro, B. Di Finizio, M. Fratta, A. Deufemia, and G. A. Puca Serum Osteocalcin in 1634 Healthy Children Clin. Chem., March 1, 1997; 43(3): 543 - 545. [Full Text]

				A. Sebastian, S. T. Harris, J. H. Ottaway, K. M. Todd, and R. C. Morris Improved Mineral Balance and Skeletal Metabolism in Postmenopausal Women Treated with Potassium Bicarbonate N. Engl. J. Med., June 23, 1994; 330(25): 1776 - 1781. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				O. ARISAKA, M. ARISAKA, A. HOSAKA, and K. YABUTA Bone Mineral Status in Hypopituitarism Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, March 1, 1989; 143(3): 272 - 273. [Abstract] [PDF]