Diurnal, week-to-week, and long-term variation in urine deoxypyridinoline cross-link excretion in healthy older women.

Objectives: To establish a reference range for morning and afternoon excretion of urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD) in apparently healthy older women selected from a volunteer database. To assess the extent of diurnal variation and short and long-term within-subject longitudinal variation.

Design: Prospective, observational, cohort study.