A comparison of biochemical indices of bone turnover in elderly institutionalized and free-living subjects

• Published in: Bone and mineral Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 31 - 38
• Main Authors: Woo, Jean, Swaminathan, R., Pang, C.P., Mak, Y.T., MacDonald, D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Inc 1990; Amsterdam Elsevier; New York, NY
• Subjects: 25-Hydroxyvitamin; Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alkaline Phosphatase - blood; Analysis of complex biological substances; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and biological fluids; Bone and Bones - metabolism; Calcifediol - blood; Calcium; Calcium - urine; Calcium Phosphates - blood; Creatinine - urine; Elderly population; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Hydroxyproline; Institution; Institutionalization; Male; Middle Aged; Serum Albumin - metabolism; Sex Factors; Sodium - urine; 25-Hydroxyvitamin; Institution; Elderly population; Calcium; Hydroxyproline; Human; Cholecalciferol(25-hydroxy); Bone; Elderly; Quantitative analysis; Blood plasma
• ISSN: 0169-6009
• DOI: 10.1016/0169-6009(91)90138-P

Plasma concentrations of calcium-phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and albumin, and fasting urinary sodium/creatinine (Na/Cr), calcium/creatinine (Ca/Cr) and hydroxyproline/creatinine (HPr/Cr) were measured in a survey of 208 Chinese elderly subjects living in chronic care institutions, and compared with values from free-living elderly subjects. Plasma parathyroid hormone estimations were also performed on a subpopulation of women living in an institution. Subjects in institutions had higher urinary HPr/Cr ratios in both men and women, as well as higher urinary Ca/Cr ratios in women, suggesting increased bone resorption. These values show significant variation depending on the degree of mobility. Factors which could contribute to the increased bone loss among institutionalized subjects are: reduced physical activity, reduced exposure to sunlight and hence reduced plasma 25(OH)D concentrations, low calcium intake, protein caloric malnutrition and possibly higher sodium intake. Correction of these factors may reduce the risk of fractures among the elderly living in chronic care institutions.