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Low serum osteocalcin levels are associated with diabetes mellitus in glucocorticoid treated patients

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Abstract

Summary

Bone turnover markers are decreased in GC-treated subjects with DM. Decreased OC levels in GC-treated patients were associated with an increased risk of DM. These results suggest the involvement of OC in glucose homeostasis regulation in DM.

Introduction

Osteocalcin (OC) is involved in the regulation of glucose homeostasis. Glucocorticoid (GC) treatment is associated with impaired osteoblast function, decreased OC levels, and the development and/or worsening of pre-existing diabetes mellitus (DM). Whether decreased OC levels in GC-treated subjects contribute to DM is not well known. The aim of this study was to analyse whether OC levels in GC-treated patients are associated with the presence of DM.

Methods

One hundred twenty-seven patients (aged 61.5 ± 17.9 years) on GC treatment were included. GC dose, treatment duration, presence of DM and bone formation (OC, bone ALP, PINP) and resorption markers (urinary NTX, serum CTX) were analysed. The cut-offs of each bone turnover marker (BTM) for the presence of DM were evaluated and optimised with the Youden index and included in the logistic regression analysis.

Results

Among the patients, 17.3% presented DM. No differences were observed in GC dose or duration or the presence of fractures. Diabetics showed lower levels of OC (7.57 ± 1.01 vs. 11.56 ± 1; p < 0.001), PINP (21.48 ± 1.01 vs. 28.39 ± 1; p = 0.0048), NTX (24.91 ± 1.01 vs. 31.7 ± 1; p = 0.036) and CTX (0.2 ± 1.01 vs. 0.3 ± 1; p = 0.0016). The discriminating BTM cut-offs for DM presence were < 9.25 ng/mL for OC, < 24 ng/mL for PINP, < 27.5 nMol/mM for NTX and < 0.25 ng/mL for CTX. In a multivariate logistic regression model adjusted for GC dose, BMI, age and the above four BTMs, only OC remained independently associated with DM presence. Thus, in a model adjusted for GC dose, BMI and age, OC was significantly associated with DM (OR: 6.1; 95%CI 1.87–19.89; p = 0.001).

Conclusion

Decreased OC levels in GC-treated patients are associated with increased odds of DM, and only OC was independently associated with DM in a model including four BTMs.

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Funding

This study was funded in part by the Societat Catalana de Reumatologia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Metabolic Bone Diseases Unit, Department of Rheumatology, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, CIBERehd, University of Barcelona, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain

    H. Florez, A. Monegal, N. Guañabens & P. Peris

  2. Department of Autoimmune Diseases, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    J. Hernández-Rodríguez & S. Prieto-González

  3. Biostatistics, Department of Basic Clinical Practice, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    J. L. Carrasco

  4. Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Department, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain

    X. Filella

Authors
  1. H. Florez
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  2. J. Hernández-Rodríguez
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  3. J. L. Carrasco
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  4. X. Filella
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  5. S. Prieto-González
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  6. A. Monegal
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  7. N. Guañabens
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  8. P. Peris
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. Florez.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Florez, H., Hernández-Rodríguez, J., Carrasco, J.L. et al. Low serum osteocalcin levels are associated with diabetes mellitus in glucocorticoid treated patients. Osteoporos Int 33, 745–750 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-021-06167-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-021-06167-z

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