Backgrounds: In the present study, serum levels of turnover markers, β-CTX and N- terminal mid-region osteocalcin were measured to outline their correlation with BMD and their usefulness in diagnosis and follow up of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Methods: Premenopausal 46 healthy women (mean age 30 ± 4 years) and 76 postmenopausal women (mean age 58 ± 8 years) were studied. Postmenopausal women were subdivided as normal, osteopenic and osteoporotic according to their BMD measures; they were once more subdivided into 2 groups as early and late menopausal according to their duration of menopause. Serum β-CTX and OC levels were measured by electrochemi- luminescence immunoassay (Roche Diagnostics, Elecsys 2010).

Results: Both of β-CTX and OC levels were found significantly higher in postmenopausal women (medians: 0.497 and 29.25 ng/ml respectively) than premenopausal control group (medians: 0.281 and 19.44 ng/ml, respectively) (p<0.0001 and p<0.0006) No statistical significant differences were found in serum levels of either β-CTX or OC between normal, osteopenic and osteoporotic women, grouped by the BMD measures (p>0.05). β-CTX and OC levels were 0.595 ng/ml and 35.27 ng/ml in early menopausal while 0.473 ng/ml and 23.43 ng/ml in late menopausal, respectively. β-CTX and OC levels were found to decrease significantly as the duration of menopause got longer (p<0.05).

Conclusions: We conclude that follow-up of bone turnover rate by serum levels of biochemical markers may contribute in predicting the rate of developing osteoporosis, especially in the early stages of menopause when BMDs are still within normal limits, but bone bone turnover rate is high.