RESUMO
The biochemical bone formation marker aminoterminal type 1 procollagen propeptide (total P1NP) was determined in 91 serum samples from healthy male donors aged 19 to 60 years, by using an "Elecsys Total P1NP" kit of reagents ("Roche-Diagnostics", Germany) on an "Elecsys 2010" electric chemiluminescence analyzer ("Roche-Hitachi", Japan). A relationship was found between the serum concentration of total P1NP and the age of the examined males. At the age of 19-20 years, the content of the propeptide is highest, at the age of 21-24 years, it decreased by 1.5-2 times, by the age of 30 years, there is its moderate decrease, which is then followed by its stabilization. The detected age-related changes reflect accelerated bone metabolism in young males during formation of the bone mass peak. The findings may be used as references in measuring male total P1NP on Elecsys automatic analyzers.
