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

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/cm(2) for lumbar region, 0.89 +/- 0.14 g/cm(2) for hip region) were higher than healthy postmenopausal control group (0.81 +/- 0.12 g/cm(2) for lumbar region, 0.76 +/- 0.10 g/cm(2) 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.