Biochemical markers of bone formation reflect endosteal bone loss in elderly men-MINOS study

In summary, serum levels of bone formation markers are negatively correlated with the estimates of endosteal bone loss. In contrast, they disclose no association with parameters reflecting periosteal apposition. Thus, in elderly men, bone formation markers reflect endosteal bone remodelling, probably because of the coupling between resorption and formation activities. In contrast, they do not reflect the periosteal bone formation, probably because the periosteal surface is smaller and has a slower remodelling rate than the endosteal surface.