Reference intervals for some serum biochemical markers of bone metabolism in Kuwait

• Published in: Clinica chimica acta 1996-05, Vol.249 (1), p.67-75
• Main Authors: Prabha, K., Al-Sulienan, Arafat, Olusi, S.O., Sugathan, T.N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aging; Alkaline phosphatase; Alkaline Phosphatase - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Bone and Bones - metabolism; Calcium - blood; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Kuwait; Male; Medical sciences; Menopause; Middle Aged; Osteoarticular system. Muscles; Osteoporosis; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Phosphate; Phosphates - blood; Reference intervals; Reference Values; Serum Albumin - analysis; Serum calcium
• ISSN: 0009-8981; 1873-3492
• DOI: 10.1016/0009-8981(96)06276-6

Using the Hitachi 717 Selective Multichannel analyser, we established reference intervals for serum albumin (37-9 g/l); measured serum calcium (2.14–2.54 mmol/1); corrected serum calcium (2.25–2.60 mmol/1); serum phosphate (0.74–1.60 mmol/1); and alkaline phosphatase (47.0–289.6 U/1) in the Kuwaiti population. The mean concentrations of calcium and phosphate decreased with increasing age in both sexes except for a sudden increase in women at about menopause. Although there was a skewed distribution of alkaline phosphatase in both sexes there was a significant increase in enzyme activity in women after the age of 50 years. Using corrected serum calcium we found that 15% of women in the reproductive age group in Kuwait had hypocalcaemia.