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. 2012 Feb;23(2):635-41.
doi: 10.1007/s00198-011-1595-0. Epub 2011 Mar 19.

Bone structure and turnover in type 2 diabetes mellitus

A Shu  1 , M T Yin, E Stein, S Cremers, E Dworakowski, R Ives, M R Rubin
Affiliations

Bone structure and turnover in type 2 diabetes mellitus

A Shu et al. Osteoporos Int. 2012 Feb.

Abstract

Summary: We compared skeletal parameters in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) and non-diabetic postmenopausal women. Bone structure by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and HR-pQCT was not different, although procollagen type 1 amino-terminal propeptide (P1NP) and osteocalcin levels were lower in T2DM.

Introduction: T2DM is associated with increased fracture risk, but, paradoxically, with higher cross-sectional bone density (BMD) as measured by DXA. We sought explanations to this puzzle by investigating detailed structural and biochemical skeletal parameters in T2DM.

Methods: Cross-sectional comparison of 25 postmenopausal T2DM women and 25 matched controls using DXA, high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) and biochemical bone turnover markers.

Results: BMD by DXA did not differ between T2DM and controls. HR-pQCT assessment also did not differ, with the exception of cortical area at the tibia, which tended to be lower in the diabetics (difference of 12 ± 6 [mean ± SD] mm, p = 0.06). P1NP and osteocalcin levels were lower in T2DM as compared to controls (P1NP, 34.3 ± 16 vs. 57.3 ± 28 ng/ml; p = 0.005; osteocalcin, 4.5 ± 2 vs. 6.2 ± 2 nmol/L; p = 0.001).

Conclusions: Postmenopausal women with T2DM had lower levels of bone formation markers as compared to controls. Aside from a possible decrease in cortical bone area at a weight-bearing site, bone structure was not altered in T2DM. Lower bone turnover may be a skeletal parameter that is present in T2DM.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest None.

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