BACKGROUND: Animal models have shown that the skeletal hormone osteocalcin stimulates testicular testosterone synthesis. To assess whether osteocalcin might be a useful marker to detect pubertal development disorders, we examined osteocalcin plasma concentrations in children and adolescents with and without disorders of pubertal development. METHODS: Osteocalcin concentrations were investigated in a total of 244 patients with endocrine disorders (122 males, mean age: 11.87+3.77 years), including patients with precocious puberty and constitutional delay of puberty. RESULTS: Osteocalcin concentrations were highest among adolescents with precocious puberty and advanced pubertal development (120.60±45.22 ng/mL), while the concentrations were lowest among patients with constitutional delay of puberty (102.20±37.13 ng/mL). Overall, osteocalcin concentrations were strongly correlated with markers of bone metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: Although plasma osteocalcin concentrations are associated with pubertal development in boys, it does not appear to be a useful diagnostic marker for altered pubertal development.
BACKGROUND: Animal models have shown that the skeletal hormone osteocalcin stimulates testicular testosterone synthesis. To assess whether osteocalcin might be a useful marker to detect pubertal development disorders, we examined osteocalcin plasma concentrations in children and adolescents with and without disorders of pubertal development. METHODS:Osteocalcin concentrations were investigated in a total of 244 patients with endocrine disorders (122 males, mean age: 11.87+3.77 years), including patients with precocious puberty and constitutional delay of puberty. RESULTS:Osteocalcin concentrations were highest among adolescents with precocious puberty and advanced pubertal development (120.60±45.22 ng/mL), while the concentrations were lowest among patients with constitutional delay of puberty (102.20±37.13 ng/mL). Overall, osteocalcin concentrations were strongly correlated with markers of bone metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: Although plasma osteocalcin concentrations are associated with pubertal development in boys, it does not appear to be a useful diagnostic marker for altered pubertal development.
Authors: Michael M Schündeln; Sebastian Fritzemeier; Sarah C Goretzki; Pia K Hauffa; Martin Munteanu; Cordula Kiewert; Berthold P Hauffa; Gudrun Fleischhack; Stephan Tippelt; Corinna Grasemann Journal: Front Pediatr Date: 2022-07-18 Impact factor: 3.569