@sebutler you have a great doctor!
My understanding of these two markers is that while the P1NP/CTX (or CTX/P1NP) ratio is a vital 'balance' check during the anabolic phase, where P1NP is the dominant driver, it’s a bit of a different story once you switch to an antiresorptive like Fosamax.
In antiresorptive phase, CTX is the dominant mover - decreasing significantly to 'lock' in gains via suppress bone turnover. Because of coupling phenomenon, P1NP will eventually follow it down after a slight lag. And because both numbers drop so significantly, we don't necessarily look for a preferential 'ratio' like we do during the building/anabolic phase.
The graphs from the TRIO study illustrates the changes in CTX and P!NP beautifully with 3 different bisphosphonates, link here (fosamax, look for the attached photos): https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/1425205/
I actually used this same logic during my HRT treatment; monitoring CTX was incredibly helpful for me to figure out the right dosing. From my endo and another bone specialist's view, getting CTX down to lower half of the range for healthy premenopausal women is preferred. I'd be curious to hear what your endo's preference would be.
@mayblin Thank you so much for this clarification -- for the article (a deep dive!) and the graphs. So if I understand correctly, P1NP is guaranteed to follow CTX down when resorption is blocked with a bisphosphonate. Hence, no need to get P1NP tested going forward. (And no need for any ratio.). You mentioned that a CTX number in the lower half of the range for healthy premenopausal women is the goal. Is that range 100-600 pg/ml? May I ask how you used this to figure out the right dosing for your HRT? eg, Did you test every six months and increase or decrease the dose depending on where you were in that range?