Objective To assess associations of bone turnover markers with metabolic syndrome (MS) among men in Henan Province. Methods From December 2015 to March 2016, a total of 697 male subjects were selected from the TIDE (Thyroid Disorders, lodine status and Diabetes: a National Epidemiological Survey‑2014) research‑‑Henan sub‑center survey using multistage stratified cluster random sampling. All included subjects received standard oral glucose tolerance test, a physical examination (height, weight, waist circumference and blood pressure), a collection of blood samples to determine the level of plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin A1c, total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), high‑density lipoprotein‑cholesterol, low‑density lipoprotein‑cholesterol, osteocalcin, pro‑collagen type 1 N‑terminal propeptide (PⅠNP), C‑terminal‑cross‑linking telopeptide of type 1 collagen (β‑CTX), 25‑hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and parathyroid hormone (PTH), and all of them completed the questionnaire. The associations between bone turnover markers and MS were analyzed using Spearman correlation and binary logistic regression, respectively. Results A total of 697 men with an age of (46.6±15.9) years were included in the study. The average body mass index (BMI) was (25.97±3.69) kg/m2 (17.1-39.0 kg/m2). After adjusted for age, PTH, 25(OH)D, BMI and smoke, BMI was found as a risk factor for MS (OR=1.263, 95%CI 1.198-1.332). Spearman correlation analysis showed that OC and PⅠNP was negatively associated with MS (r=-0.154, -0.107, both P<0.01), but there was no significant correlation between β‑CTX and MS. The results of the binary logistic regression analysis showed that OC was a protective factor for MS, abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertension and high TG; after adjusted for age, PTH, 25(OH) D and BMI, osteocalcin was also a protective factor for hyperglycemia (OR=0.971, 95%CI 0.947-0.995) and high TG (OR=0.955, 95%CI 0.931-0.980); further adjusted for smoke, the results were same as before. PⅠNP was a protective factor for MS, abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia and hypertension; after adjusted for age, PTH and 25(OH)D, PⅠNP was also a protective factor for abdominal obesity (OR=0.993, 95%CI 0.988-0.999); further adjusted for BMI and smoke, there was no significant correlation between P Ⅰ NP and abdominal obesity. Conclusion Weight control is important to prevent adult males from MS, and higher levels of osteocalcin and PⅠNP may help prevent MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]