title: [Human serum alcaline phosphatase and ageing].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In experimental ageing models an inverse relationship between age and alkaline phosphatase activity has been observed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To characterize serum levels of alkaline phosphatase activity in humans according to age and gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum alkaline phosphatase was determined in a random sample of 203 community dwellers aged 40 or more years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In men (n=87) total serum alkaline phosphatase markedly increased from the 5th to the 6th decade and then stabilized. For women (n=116) there was a slight increase in total serum alkaline phosphatase from the 5th to the 6th decade, followed by a bend upward after 69 years of age. There was a significant positive correlation between total serum alkaline phosphatase and age for the whole population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum alkaline phosphatase activity appears as a biomarker of age in humans, similarly to what has been described for experimental animal models.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Bioquimica (U-38 FCT), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Negrão
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hipólito-Reis
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Azevedo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase