CONCENTRATION AND HYDROXYAPATITE BINDING-CAPACITY OF PLASMA OSTEOCALCIN IN CHRONIC-ALCOHOLIC MEN - EFFECT OF A 3-WEEK WITHDRAWAL THERAPY

Plasma concentrations of osteocalcin (OC) were studied in 40 chronic a lcoholic men (age range: 21-56 years) before and after 3 weeks of etha nol withdrawal therapy and in 50 non-alcoholic controls selected in re spect to age and sex. Plasma OC level in alcoholic subjects was signif icantly lower than in the controls (3.0 +/- 2.6 mug/l and 4.7 +/- 2.8 mug/l, respectively). After 21 days of withdrawal therapy, plasma OC l evel was significantly higher than at the day of admission (5.8 +/- 3. 5 mug/l, P < 0.001). This level was not statistically different from t hat of the controls. We also demonstrated that the hydroxyapatite bind ing capacity of plasma OC before as well as after the withdrawal perio d was not different from that of the controls. The acetaldehyde adduct ion of purified bovine OC in vitro did not change any of its immunoact ivity and hydroxyapatite binding capacity. The results emphasize the f act that the decrease of plasma osteocalcin in chronic alcoholics is r eversible within 3 weeks of alcohol withdrawal and that the circulatin g protein seems to be similar to that present in controls.