Use of biochemical markers of bone turnover in the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis

BTMs offer a potential non-invasive and reliable way of assessing skeletal activity, studying drug effects and response to therapies, assessing fracture risk and predicting other skeletal parameters, such as bone loss, BMD and bone mass. A 30%-70% reduction in bone resorption markers can be achieved with antiresorptive therapy, and 30%-50% increase in bone formation markers with anabolic therapy. We recommend that clinicians understand and incorporate the measurement of BTMs in the management of osteoporosis.