Evaluation of bone turnover in postmenopausal patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using biochemical markers and bone mineral density measurements

Abstract

Although osteoporosis is reported as a potential complication of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) ,the effects of type 2 DM on bone mass are conflicting. Most of the studies conducted in recent years reveal that bone mineral density (BMD) values of type 2 DM patients are not decreased and even increased when compared with healthy control groups. In this study we evaluated bone turnover in 57 postmenopausal type 2 DM patients utilizing biochemical markers for bone formation and resorption ,and BMD measurements. We found that BMD values in diabetic patients (0.91 ± 0.11 g/cm2 for lumbar region, 0.89 ± 0.14 g/cm2 for hip region) were higher than healthy postmenopausal control group (0.81 ± 0.12 g/cm2 for lumbar region ,0.76 ± 0.10 g/cm2 for hip region). Serum alkaline phosphatase values were similar to the control group ,whereas serum osteocalcin and N-telopeptide/creatinine (NTx/Cr) values were significantly lower than the control group (osteocalcin: 8.82 ± 4.03 ng/ml ,NTx/Cr: 122.70 ± 81.76 nMBCE/mMCr) in diabetic patients (osteocalcin: 4.44 ± 3.53 ng/ml ,NTx/Cr: 42.24 ± 29.97 nMBCE/mMCr). Also a significant correlation was observed between body mass index and BMD values. Our findings suggested that the bone turnover rate is remarkably lower in type 2 DM patients compared to healthy postmenopausal patients.