Hormonal and biochemical parameters correlated with bone densitometric markers in prepubertal Hungarian children

► Determinants of bone mass in Tanner stage I, and associations of biochemical markers with bone densitometric values were investigated. ► Estradiol levels play a key role in defining bone turnover and bone mass in both genders already in prepuberty. ► Estradiol negatively correlates with 25(OH)D. In girls only, osteocalcin positively correlates with estradiol and PTHi when 25(OH)D is low. ► Elevated PTHi levels should be evaluated with caution, because the cut-off in Tanner stage I is not well established. ► Low 25(OH)D levels may not necessarily reflect a negative biochemical milieu, but rather increased estradiol supporting bone formation.