Download overview of CIM Studies 2009–2025

This document provides a comprehensive overview of twelve scientific studies published between 2009 and 2025 that examine the use of stable calcium isotopes as biomarkers for bone mineral balance. The focus is on so-called Calcium Isotope Marker (CIM) technology, which is establishing itself as a promising, non-invasive diagnostic and monitoring tool for bone diseases such as osteoporosis.

The studies cover a wide range of topics and methodologies. Among other things, the use of CIM was investigated in:

Early risk assessment of metabolic bone diseases

• Calcium isotope ratios in blood and urine: A new biomarker for the diagnosis of osteoporosis (2019)
• Calcium isotope composition in serum and urine for the assessment of bone mineral balance (BMB) The osteolabs post-market follow-up study (2024)
• Naturally occurring stable calcium isotope ratios are a novel biomarker of bone calcium balance in chronic kidney disease (2022)

Monitoring of therapies such as denosumab or androgen deprivation

• Early effects of androgen deprivation on bone and mineral homeostasis in adult men (2020)
• Monitoring denosumab therapy using calcium isotope marker (CIM) technology (2025)
• Changes in bone and mineral homeostasis after short-term androgen deprivation therapy… (2023)

Assessment of bone health in children, patients with kidney disease, and women engaged in physical activity

• Naturally Occurring Stable Calcium Isotope Ratios in Body Compartments… (2020)
• Naturally occurring stable calcium isotope ratios… in chronic kidney disease (2022)
• The effect of calcium supplementation on bone calcium balance during load carriage in women (2025)

Fundamental cellular mechanisms of calcium isotope fractionation

• Calcium isotope fractionation by osteoblasts and osteoclasts… (2021)
• Biological fractionation of stable Ca isotopes in Göttingen minipigs… (2016)
• Nutritional Calcium Supply Dependent Calcium Balance… in Rats (2022)

A key finding of many studies is that changes in the ratio of stable calcium isotopes (particularly δ⁴⁴/⁴²Ca) in blood and urine reliably indicate bone resorption and formation -often earlier and with greater sensitivity than conventional methods such as DXA.