Serum osteocalcin levels in overweight children

Osteocalcin: may be a useful biomarker for early identification of rapidly progressive central precocious puberty in girls

OBJECTIVE

To assess serum osteocalcin (OC) as a potential biomarker for the early detection of rapidly progressive central precocious puberty (RP-CPP) in girls.

METHODS

Serum OC levels were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). In the retrospective analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was employed to evaluate the ability of OC to identify RP-CPP. A prospective study and screening tests were utilized to assess the potential of OC for use in the early prediction of RP-CPP. Variable selection in the multivariate analysis was conducted using the Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) and binary logistic regression was employed to construct the diagnostic prediction model.

RESULTS

Girls with RP-CPP had significantly higher serum OC levels compared to girls with non-rapidly progressive central precocious puberty (NRP-CPP) (149.04±40.50 vs. 89.10±31.83 ng/mL, P < 0.001). The optimal OC cut-off point for differentiating RP-CPP from NRP-CPP was 107.05 ng/mL, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.90 (95%CI: 0.851-0.949; P < 0.001), with a sensitivity of 91.1% and specificity of 70.7%. The results of the prospective study indicated that changes in OC precede alterations in estradiol (E2) and bone age (BA). A diagnostic prediction model that includes duration of breast development, BA, OC, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and uterine length achieved an AUC of 0.961, with a sensitivity of 94.1% and specificity of 91.5% for the detection of RP-CPP. If OC is excluded from the model, the AUC decreases to 0.894, with sensitivity and specificity declining to 80.5% and 83.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum OC levels may serve as a promising biomarker for the early differentiation between RP-CPP and NRP-CPP in girls. The diagnostic prediction model that incorporates duration of breast development, BA, OC, HDL-C, and uterine length effectively identifies girls with RP-CPP.

Association between osteocalcin and residual β-cell function in children and adolescents newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes: a pivotal study

PURPOSE

This pivotal study aimed to evaluate circulating levels of bone remodeling markers in children and adolescents at the onset of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Additionally, we assessed their correlation with glucose control, residual β-cell function, and the severity of presentation.

METHODS

In this single-center cross-sectional study, we recruited children and adolescents newly diagnosed with T1D at our tertiary-care Diabetes Centre. Anamnestic, anthropometric, clinical, and biochemical data at T1D diagnosis were collected. Basal and stimulated C-peptide levels were assessed, along with the following bone remodeling biomarkers: osteocalcin (OC), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), parathormone (PTH), 25-OH Vitamin D (25OH-D), and the C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX).

RESULTS

We enrolled 29 individuals newly diagnosed with T1D, with a slight male prevalence (51.7%). The mean age was 8.4 ± 3.7 years. A positive correlation between OC and stimulated C-peptide (R = 0.538; p = 0.026) and between PTH and serum HCO3- (R = 0.544; p = 0.025) was found. No other correlations between bone remodeling biomarkers and clinical variables were detected.

CONCLUSION

Our data showed a positive correlation between OC levels and residual β-cell function in children and adolescents at T1D presentation. Further longitudinal studies evaluating OC levels in pediatric subjects with T1D are needed to better understand the complex interaction between bone and glucose metabolisms.

Serum Osteocalcin, Sclerostin and Lipocalin-2 Levels in Adolescent Boys with Obesity over a 12-Week Sprint Interval Training

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of supervised cycling sprint interval training (SIT) on serum osteocalcin, lipocalin-2 and sclerostin levels, and bone mineral characteristics among obese adolescent boys. Untrained obese adolescent boys aged 13.4 ± 0.3 were assigned to either a 12-week SIT group (3 sessions/week), or a non-exercising control group who continued with their habitual everyday life. Serum osteocalcin, lipocalin-2 and sclerostin concentrations, and bone mineral values were assessed before and after intervention. After 12-week intervention, where 14 boys in both groups ended the study, there were no significant differences in serum osteokine levels between the groups after 12 weeks, while whole body bone mineral content and lower limb bone mineral density increased in the SIT group (p < 0.05). Change in body mass index was negatively correlated with the change in osteocalcin (r = -0.57; p = 0.034), and positively correlated with the change in lipocalin-2 levels (r = 0.57; p = 0.035) in the SIT group. Supervised 12-week SIT intervention improved bone mineral characteristics, but did not change osteocalcin, lipocalin-2 or sclerostin levels in adolescent boys with obesity.

Bone Turnover Markers in Children: From Laboratory Challenges to Clinical Interpretation

Bone turnover markers (BTMs) have been developed many years ago to study, in combination with imaging techniques, bone remodeling in adults. In children and adolescents, bone metabolism differs from adults since it implies both growth and bone remodeling, suggesting an age- and gender-dependent BTM concentration. Therefore, specific studies have evaluated BTMs in not only physiological but also pathological conditions. However, in pediatrics, the use of BTMs in clinical practice is still limited due to these many children-related specificities. This review will discuss about physiological levels of BTMs as well as their modifications under pathological conditions in children and adolescents. A focus is also given on analytical and clinical challenges that restrain BTM usefulness in pediatrics.

Sociodemographic, Anthropometric, Body Composition, Nutritional, and Biochemical Factors Influenced by Age in a Postmenopausal Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

Postmenopausal aging has become relevant for understanding health during the transition life stages-the aging process being involved in several disturbances of the human condition. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between postmenopausal aging and sociodemographic, anthropometric, body composition, nutritional, and biochemical (i.e., protein and lipid profiles, phosphorous-calcium metabolism, and antioxidant status) factors in postmenopausal women. This cross-sectional study enrolled 78 healthy postmenopausal women (44-76 years). The anthropometrical data showed no differences by age. Biochemical parameters, especially those involved in the protein and phosphorous-calcium metabolism, were influenced by age in our cohort of postmenopausal women. In contrast, no associations were found when considering lipid and antioxidant parameters. Height, fiber intake, blood glucose, protein profile and phosphorous-calcium metabolism markers seem to be the most affected nutritional-related factors by age in our cohort of healthy postmenopausal women. Primary prevention strategies focused on parameters at risk of disruption with postmenopausal aging are necessary to ensure the quality of life in older ages.

Evaluation of Bone Mineral Density, Serum Osteocalcin, and Osteopontin Levels in Postmenopausal Women with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, with/without Osteoporosis

OBJECTIVE

Osteoporosis (OP) is a worldwide ailment; we aim to establish new biomarkers in diagnosis by determining the levels of serum osteocalcin and osteopontin along with bone mineral density (BMD) and lumbar T-score, in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with or without OP.

METHODS

This observational study included 160 postmenopausal women who were an attendee at outpatient clinics in Al-Hussein Hospital, Thi-Qar province; subdivided into 3 groups based on their T-score testing: Group I (n = 40) comprised postmenopausal women without T2DM as controls, Group II (n = 60) comprised postmenopausal women with T2DM but without OP, and Group III (n = 60) comprised postmenopausal women with T2DM with OP. The dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure the BMD (total body, lumbar spine, and femoral) and T-score for lumbar spine and femoral. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose (FBG), osteocalcin, and osteopontin levels were assessed in all three groups.

RESULTS

Compared with controls, Group III demonstrated significantly lower BMD (total body, lumbar spine, and femoral), T-score for lumbar spine and femoral, serum osteocalcin, and osteopontin levels than Group II and Group I (P < 0.001). FBG and HbA1c levels were significantly higher in Group III than in Groups I and II (P < 0.001). A negative correlation was proved between HbA1c levels with BMD, osteocalcin levels, and osteopontin levels in the three groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Iraqi postmenopausal women with T2DM had a significantly lower bone mineral density, serum osteocalcin, and osteopontin levels. These results may serve as adjuvants in screening for OP, particularly among diabetic patients.

Serum C-peptide and osteocalcin levels in children with recently diagnosed diabetes

BACKGROUND

We explored the association of C-peptide (marker of secreted insulin), proinsulin and proinsulin ⁄C-peptide ratio (PI/C) (markers of beta-cell endoplasmic reticulum [ER] stress) with undercarboxylated (uOC) and carboxylated osteocalcin (cOC) and their ratio (uOC/cOC) in children with recently diagnosed type 1 (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D), and the correlation of these variables with partial remission (PR) in children with T1D.

METHODS

Demographic and clinical data of children with new-onset diabetes (n = 68; median age = 12.2 years; 33.8% non-Hispanic White, 45.6% Hispanic/Latino, 16.2% African American and 4.4% other) were collected at diagnosis and during the first (V1), second (V2) and third clinical visits at 9.0, 32.0 and 175.7 weeks, respectively. Serum proinsulin, C-peptide, uOC and cOC values were measured 7.0 weeks after diagnosis. PR was defined as insulin dose-adjusted HbA1c (IDAA1c) ≤9.

RESULTS

In children with new-onset T1D with DKA (33.3%) or T2D (29.4%), Spearman's correlation coefficient revealed a positive association between the C-peptide levels and both uOC and uOC/cOC ratio. In T1D (n = 48), both higher serum C-peptide levels and low PI:C ratio were associated with higher BMI percentile (β = 0.02, P = .001; β = -0.01, P = .02, respectively) and older age at diagnosis (β = 0.13, P = .001; β = -0.12, P = .001, respectively). Furthermore, in children with T1D, C-peptide levels at V1 correlated with IDAA1c ≤ 9 at V1 (P = .04).

CONCLUSION

C-peptide levels are associated with a higher uOC and uOC/cOC ratio in paediatric diabetes. In new-onset T1D children, older age and higher BMI were associated with lower beta-cell stress and higher preserved function, which was predictive of PR on follow-up.