SERUM OSTEOCALCIN REGULATION IN PROTEIN-ENERGY MALNOURISHED CHILDREN

To evaluate bone turnover changes occurring during protein-energy maln utrition, serum osteocalcin, a marker of bone formation, has been stud ied in healthy control, stunted, and severely malnourished (kwashiorko r and marasmus) Senegalese children. Serum osteocalcin levels were dra matically reduced in stunted, kwashiorkor, and marasmic children compa red with control children. In addition serum osteocalcin levels of con trol children living in Senegal were lower (-46%) than those of Africa n children living in France. Interestingly, serum osteocalcin level wa s not related to its major known regulators (1 alpha,25-dihydroxychole calciferol, 25-lydroxycholecalciferol, and PTH) nor to stunting, but w as related to serum transthyretin and thyroid hormones concentrations. These data suggest that serum osteocalcin level is related to protein -energy status and that bone formation was affected in apparently heal thy and in malnourished Senegalese children. Serum osteocalcin could b e a potent tool in the study of the alterations of bone formation in m alnutrition.