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Osteocalcin levels are inversely associated with Hba1c and BMI in adult subjects with long-standing type 1 diabetes

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Abstract

Purpose

Diabetic osteopathy is an upcoming complication of diabetes characterized by osteoporosis, increased risk for bone fractures and alterations in bone metabolism. Osteocalcin (OC) is a bone-specific protein produced by osteoblasts involved in the regulation of glucose and energy metabolism. The aim of this study is to determine whether OC serum levels are correlated with metabolic control in adult subjects with type one diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 93 subjects (51 men) with mean age, disease duration and body mass index (BMI) of 39.9 ± 12.3, 17.2 ± 12.6 years and 24.5 ± 3.4 kg/m2, respectively. Blood samples were drawn to measure levels of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), OC, 25-OH vitamin D and PTH.

Results

Significant inverse correlations were found between OC and HbA1c (r = −0.295, P = 0.004) and between OC and BMI (r = −0.218, P = 0.037). These correlations were confirmed also among men in the analyses by gender [HbA1c vs OC: r = −0.363, P = 0.009; BMI vs OC: r = −0.291, P = 0.043], and similar but nonsignificant trends were confirmed among women. A significant difference in mean OC was also found between the lowest and the highest HbA1c tertile (22.3 ± 10.0 vs 16.9 ± 8.0 ng/mL, P = 0.025).

Conclusions

These data show that in T1DM of long duration, OC serum levels are inversely associated with HbA1c and BMI, supporting the hypothesis that a poor glycemic control can affect osteoblast function.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from the Italian Ministry of University and Technological research (Prin project of national interest).

Conflict of interest

All the authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128, Rome, Italy

    Ernesto Maddaloni, Luca D’Onofrio, Angelo Lauria, Anna Rita Maurizi, Rocky Strollo, Andrea Palermo, Nicola Napoli, Paolo Pozzilli & Silvia Manfrini

  2. Centre for Diabetes, Barts and The London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, The Blizard Building, London, UK

    Paolo Pozzilli

  3. Medical Laboratory Unit, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Silvia Angeletti

Authors
  1. Ernesto Maddaloni
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  2. Luca D’Onofrio
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Correspondence to Ernesto Maddaloni.

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Maddaloni, E., D’Onofrio, L., Lauria, A. et al. Osteocalcin levels are inversely associated with Hba1c and BMI in adult subjects with long-standing type 1 diabetes. J Endocrinol Invest 37, 661–666 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-014-0092-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-014-0092-7

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