Abstract

A radioimmunoassay (RIA) for human osteocalcin was developed and applied to the measurement of serum osteocalcin levels in practising girls. Blood samples were collected from 78 girls aged 10 to 36, trained in the following kinds of sports: artistic gymnastics, gymnastics, table tennis, rowing, athletics and shooting. In sport groups of similar ages either multiplicative differences were observed, for example athletics - rowing: 0.46-0.29 vs 2.02 +/- 0.58 micro-mol/l (X +/- SD) or one order of magnitude differences between two pre-menarchal groups: 5.19 +/- 2.82 micro-mol/l in the gymnastics group vs 0.53 +/- 0.36 micro-mol/l in the artistic group. The progressive increases of osteocalcin levels during the first and the second decade, and their decreases towards the age of twenty, described in the non-sportive population, were not found in the sport groups, girls or boys, studied by us. Factors, which may cause this discrepancy are discussed, as well as the possible causes and practical consequences of the high levels noted in the gymnastics group. Verf.-Referat