No Relationship between Osteocalcin and the Microvascular Complications of Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Purpose: Osteocalcin, one of the osteoblast-specific proteins is produced and secreted by osteoblasts. Although osteocalcin has been thought to play a role only in bone formation, recent studies have shown that it also enhances insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells. Several studies have reported lower serum osteocalcin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) than in non-diabetic individuals; and a negative correlation between microvascular complications and osteocalcin levels in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. We investigated the relationship between microvascular complications and serum undercarboxylated osteocalcin (uOC) levels in T2DM patients. Material and Method: One hundred seventy-nine patients with T2DM aged between 30 and 60 years were randomly included in the study; 101 patients with microvascular complications formed the patient group, and the other 78 without a microvascular complication formed the control group. The patients were evaluated for diabetic nephropathy, retinopathy and neuropathy. The ELISA method was used to measure uOC levels. Results: The two groups were statistically similar with regard to age, gender and body mass index (BMI). Duration of diabetes was shorter in control group than in patient group (p<0.05). HbA1c level in patient group was significantly higher than in controls (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in uOC levels between the groups (p>0.05). Discussion: There was no relationship between serum osteocalcin levels and the microvascular complications of T2DM.