Urinary free deoxypyridinoline excretion in lactating and non-lactating Arabic women of the United Arab Emirates.

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to measure urinary free deoxypyridinoline (Dpd) excretion in non-lactating and lactating Arabic women of the United Arab Emirates.

METHODS

Morning urine specimens were obtained from 679 non-pregnant, non-lactating women and 268 lactating women. Commercial enzyme-linked immunoassay kits were used for urinary free Dpd determinations.

RESULTS

For the non-lactating women, the mean urinary free Dpd excretion was 9.20 nmol/mmol creatinine (95% confidence interval: 8.82-9.59). This result was significantly higher than those reported elsewhere. There was a trend towards lower Dpd excretion with increasing age (ANOVA test of linearity P<0.05). Urinary free Dpd in lactating women was 9.92 (9.33-10.5); this was not significantly different from that of non-lactating women (P=0.052). Dpd excretion was higher in the first month post-partum, with a significant trend towards diminishing levels thereafter, returning to non-lactating levels by 9 months post-partum (ANOVA test for linearity P<0.005).

CONCLUSION

Dpd excretion in UAE Arabic women aged 20-44 years was higher than in other groups. This could be due to ethnicity or vitamin D status.