Reference intervals for some serum biochemical markers of bone metabolism in Kuwait

Using the Hitachi 717 Selective Multichannel analyser, we established reference intervals for serum albumin (37-9 g/l); measured serum calcium (2.14-2.54 mmol/l); corrected serum calcium (2.25-2.60 mmol/l); serum phosphate (0.74-1.60 mmol/l); and alkaline phosphatase (47.0-289.6 U/l) in the Kuwaiti population. The mean concentrations of calcium and phosphate decreased with increasing age in both sexes except for a sudden increase in women at about menopause. Although there was a skewed distribution of alkaline phosphatase in both sexes there was a significant increase in enzyme activity in women after the age of 50 years. Using corrected serum calcium we found that 15% of women in the reproductive age group in Kuwait had hypocalcaemia.