Epidemiological study on the hydroxyproline: creatinine ratio as an index of growth rate.

A number of studies has suggested that urinary hydroxyproline can be used as an index of collagen metabolism and urinary hydroxyproline excretion is closely related to growth hormone. This report is a cohort study to demonstrate the relationship between the urinary hydroxyproline: creatinine ratio and growth rate for four years. The pattern of increased urinary hydroxyproline: creatinine ratio in adolescence appeared to be closely ralated to the general pattern of growth rate measured in school children. In has been shown that the urinary hydroxyproline: creatinine ratio is the most suitable index of the growth rate.