Abstract
Objective: Osteocalcin (OC) is a bone derived protein with a recently discovered hormonal nature with a putative target organ the arterial wall. Under pathological conditions, OC synthesized locally by vascular smooth muscle cells. Arterial stiffness measurement is a modern method for diagnosing subclinical atherosclerosis. Of particular importance is to find a biomarker for early vascular damage in patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Aim: To evaluate the correlation of carboxylated (cOC) and uncarboxylated (ucOC) osteocalcin levels with parameters of arterial stiffness (AS) in patients with T2DM without cardio-vascular diseases. Design and method: 46 patients with T2DM (mean age 58 ± 7.6 men 45.6%) and 18 healthy age- and sex-matched controls were included in the study and examined for cOC and ucOC with ELISA kits (Takara Bio, Japan). One-point Echo-tacking measuring by Aloka Hitachi were performed on the common carotid artery (CA) with measuring Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV), Beta-stiffness index (BSI) and Modulus of elasticity (Ep). Results: We found significant correlations of cOC with the BSI (r = 0.31; p = 0.03) and the Ep (r = 0.29; p = 0.05), and lack of correlation with PWV (r = 0.23; p = 0.12). After adjusting confounding factors such as blood pressure, waist circumference, cOC significant and independently correlated with BSI (B = -0.34; P = 0.04). No correlations were found for ucOC. We additionally established correlations of cOC with HDL (r = 0.3; p = 0.01), BMI (r = -0.32; p = 0.007) and waist (r = -0.4; p = 0.0009). cOC were lower in patients with T2DM 7.84 ± 2.41 ng/ml than in controls 10.05 ± 4.57 ng/ml (p = 0.01). unOC levels were lower in patients with T2DM without significance 3.81 ± 5.12 ng/ml vs. 4.37 ± 3.0 ng/ml (p = 0.08). Conclusions: Our patients with T2DM had lower unOC and cOC levels. For cOC were observed a significant correlation with the arterial stiffness parameters BSI and Ep and therefore with subclinical atherosclerosis. Osteocalcin is involved in the process of vascular calcification and can be considered as a potential biomarker for vascular damage.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
