BoneandMinsra,. 5 (1989) 193-200 Else vie r zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJ 193 Indices of calcium metabolism in women with hip fractures C. Cooper”, M. Mclaren”, P.J. WoodC, L. Coultot? and J.A. Kanisd We have arrerred zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONM indices of calcium metabolism in 41 women with hip fra c ture s a nd c o m p a re d tb c m witb wo e ld e rly c o m ro l g ro up s. The wo m e n with hip fra c ture s b a d lo we r se rum c o nc e ntra tio ns o f a lb um in, 25.bydrauyvitamin D a nd o ste o c a lc in tha n the c o m ro b . Se rum c o nc e ntra tio nso f c a lc ium , a lka line p b o s- pbatase and paratbyraid hamxme. ab we ll a s urina ry b yd ro xyp ra linc le rc a rinine ra tio s we re sim ila r in the thre e g ro up s o f wo m e n. The wna ll re d uc tio n in se rum o ste o c a lc in c o nc e ntra tio n in fra c ture p a tie nts is c o nsiste nt with the hyp o the sis tha t re d uc e d o ste o b la st func tio n m a y c o ntrib ute 10 the a stc a p a ro sis whic h re suks in hip fra c ture . Key words: Calcium membobsm; Orteocalcin: 25Hydroxyvitamin D; Fe m o ra l ne c k fra c ture Hip fractures in the elderly female population are a major public health problem. The incidence of these fractures depends upon three factors: bone strength, risk of falling and neuromuscular protective responses [l]. Osteoporosis, defined as a re- duction in bone mass, is an important contributor to bone fragility, but other disor- ders of skeletal structure. such as osteomalacia, have also been implicated in the ae- tiology of hip fractures [Z]. The pattern of bone loss which culminates in hip fracture might stem from two abnormalities in bone metabolism: impaired bone formation and secondary hyperparathyroidism 131. As few studies have investigated calcium metabolism in patients with hip fracture, we have examined certain biochemical in- Correspondence 10: Dr C. Cooper. MRC Envira nm e m a l Ep td e m io lo g y Unit. So utha m p to n G e ne ra l Hospital. Southampton SD94XY. Eng la nd . 0169t0OW.91603.50~ 1989 Elwie r Sc ie nc e Pub lishe rs B.Y. (Bio m e d ic a l Divisio n)