title: Plasma concentrations of osteocalcin are associated with the timing of pubertal progress in boys.
abstract: 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.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Schündeln
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bäder
authors.forename: Cordula
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kiewert
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Führer
authors.forename: Berthold P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Hauffa
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grasemann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology*; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015675:Osteocalcin