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The association between serum osteocalcin levels and metabolic syndrome in Koreans

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Abstract

Summary

The association between serum osteocalcin levels and metabolic syndrome (MS) in Korean individuals was investigated. Serum osteocalcin levels are significantly lower in subjects with MS than in those without the disease, regardless of glucose metabolism.

Introduction

Osteocalcin was recently shown to affect energy metabolism. In the present study, we investigated the possible association between serum osteocalcin concentrations and MS.

Methods

A cross-sectional community-based survey was conducted. Serum osteocalcin, type 1 collagen C-telopeptide (CTX) and total alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentrations were determined in 567 subjects. MS was defined according to NCEP-ATP III criteria.

Results

Serum osteocalcin concentrations were significantly lower in subjects with MS than those without MS in postmenopausal women (18.923 ± 7.685 vs 22.513 ± 7.344 ng/ml, P < 0.001) and marginally lower in subjects with MS than those without MS in men (14.550 ± 5.090 vs 16.125 ± 4.749 ng/ml, P = 0.086) after adjustment for age and BMI. Further controlling with CTX or ALP did not affect this association in postmenopausal women; however, controlling with osteocalcin abolished the association between CTX and MS. Significant differences in serum osteocalcin levels by MS status were noted in subjects with normal glucose tolerance as well as those with abnormal glucose tolerance (P = 0.032 and P < 0.001, respectively). Compared with subjects with the highest quartile of osteocalcin, those in the lower quartile groups (Q1–Q3) had significantly increased risks of MS (ORs = 5.18, CIs = 1.15–23.42) in men. In postmenopausal women, the ORs for MS were significantly higher in the lowest quartile than in the highest quartile (ORs = 5.25, CIs = 2.42–11.36).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that osteocalcin is associated with MS, independently of glucose metabolism.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the Korea Health 21 Research & Development Project of the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (Project No.: A010252).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Promotion Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 388-1 Poongnap2-Dong, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, 138-736, Republic of Korea

    S. J. Bae, J. W. Choe & H. K. Kim

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Veterans Hospital, Seoul, South Korea

    Y.E. Chung

  3. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

    B.J. Kim, S. H. Lee, J.M. Koh & G. S. Kim

  4. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Sanbon Medical Center, University of Wonkwang College of Medicine, Iksan, South Korea

    H. Y. Kim

Authors
  1. S. J. Bae
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  2. J. W. Choe
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  3. Y.E. Chung
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  4. B.J. Kim
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  5. S. H. Lee
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  6. H. Y. Kim
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  7. J.M. Koh
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  8. H. K. Kim
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  9. G. S. Kim
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. W. Choe.

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Bae, S.J., Choe, J.W., Chung, Y. et al. The association between serum osteocalcin levels and metabolic syndrome in Koreans. Osteoporos Int 22, 2837–2846 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-010-1504-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-010-1504-y

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