Table 4.

Biochemistry and markers of bone formation and resorption in patients with osteoporosis at either the lumbar spine and/or hip compared with those patients with osteopenia or normal bone density (mean ± SD)

Biochemistry (normal range)	Osteoporosis at lumbar spine and/or hip (n = 47)	Osteopenia/ normal bone mineral density (n = 211)	P
Total calcium (2.12-2.55 mmol/L)	2.30 ± 0.03	2.31 ± 0.01	NS
Phosphate (0.65-1.3 mmol/L)	1.11 ± 0.03	1.11 ± 0.03	NS
BSAP (11.6-30.6 μg/L)	19.7 ± 1.4	18.6 ± 0.6	NS
DPD/creat (2.3-7.4 nmol/mmol)	5.8 ± 1.0	5.6 ± 0.4	NS
Ntx/creat (3.0-65.0 BCE)	63.7 ± 9.5	40.6 ± 3.6	P < 0.05

BSAP: Bone specific alkaline phosphatase; DPD: Deoxypyridinoline; Ntx: N-telopeptides of type 1 collagen; BCE: Bone collagen eqivalents; NS: not significant.