Study of bone loss in diabetes mellitus type 1

• Published in: Diabetes research and clinical practice Vol. 6; no. 3; pp. 237 - 242
• Main Authors: Leon, Miguel, Larrodera, Luisa, Lledo, Gregorio, Hawkins, Federico
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.04.1989
• Subjects: Alkaline Phosphatase - blood; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Blood Proteins - analysis; Bone and Bones - diagnostic imaging; Bone Diseases, Metabolic - etiology; Bone Resorption; Calcium - metabolism; Calcium-Binding Proteins - blood; Child; Creatinine - metabolism; Diabetes mellitus type 1; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - physiopathology; Female; Glycated Hemoglobin A - analysis; Humans; Hydroxyproline - urine; Magnesium - blood; Male; Osteocalcin; Osteopenia; Parathyroid Hormone - blood; Phosphorus - metabolism; Radiography; Reference Values; Sex Factors; Diabetes mellitus type 1; Osteocalcin; Osteopenia
• DOI: 10.1016/0168-8227(89)90035-1
• ISSN: 0168-8227

While people with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) often have bone deficiency, the relation between this dificiency and the duration or control of diabetes remains controversial. To assess the possibility of such an interrelationship, we studied parameters relating to mineral metabolism (Ca, P, alkaline phosphatase, Mg, PTH, and hydroxyproline (OHP)); bone remodeling (osteocalcin); diabetic control (HbA 1c); and radiological study of the second metacarpal of the left hand and of bone age in 87 children with type 1 DM. The mineral parameters were not abnormal among the diabetics. Diabetic children had similar levels of fasting osteocalcin as normals (10.05 ± 4.9 vs. 9.79 ± 3.34 ng/ml, mean ± SD); this did not differ by sex. The bone age fell within two standard deviations of the mean, and 9.5% of the diabetics had a bone mass deficit (less than the mean cortical thickness) greater than 2 SD. There was no correlation between osteocalcin and Ca, P, glycemia, HbA 1c, PTH, Mg, or OHP. Our results do not support any association between bone mass loss and the severity or duration of type 1 diabetes. Bone turnover, measured by serum osteocalcin, was normal. Therefore the pathogenesis of osteopenia in type 1 DM remains unclear, and requires further investigation.