Abstract: This invention concerns a method for the assessment of bone fragility and fracture risk, or osteoporosis, in a person. In said method, the concentration of gamma-carboxylated osteocalcin (COC) and optionally also the concentration of intact or total osteocalcin (IOC or TOC, respectively) in a body fluid sample of said person is measured. The concentration of gamma-carboxylated osteocalcin (COC) so obtained is compared to the mean concentration of gamma-carboxylated osteocalcin (mean COC) in similar body fluid samples of the population of the same age and sex. Alternatively, the determined ratio COC/IOC or COC/TOC for said person, is compared to the mean ratio COC/IOC or COC/TOC, (mean ratio COC/IOC or mean ratio COC/TOC) determined from measurements in similar body fluid samples of the population of the same age and sex. A measured COC that is lower than the mean COC is used as indication of osteoporosis, bone fragility or increased risk of bone fracture in said person.

Abstract: The invention relates to an isolated osteocalcin fragment derived from human urine, said fragment being characterized in that at least one of the glutamic acids in the position 17, 21 and 24 of the amino acid sequence 1                     6   7 Tyr-Leu-Tyr-Gln-Trp-Leu-Gly-Ala-Pro-Val-Pro-Tyr-                 17              21          24 Pro-Asp-Pro-Leu-Glu-Pro-Arg-Arg-Glu-Val-Cys-Glu-                   30 Leu-Asn-Pro-Asp-Cys-Asp-Glu-Leu-Ala-Asp-His-Ile- Gly-Phe-Gln-Glu-Ala-Tyr-Arg-Arg-Phe-Tyr-Gly-Pro- Val