Prisco Piscitelli1, Cosimo Neglia, Antonella Vigilanza, Annamaria Colao. 1. aIOS, Southern Italy Hospital Institute bColeman Ltd, Naples, cISBEM, Euro Mediterranean Scientific Biomedical Institute, Brindisi and Naples dUniversity Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus are known to increase fracture risk. It is known that type 1 diabetes mellitus is associated with lower bone mineral density, but for type 2 diabetes mellitus, the real risk of increasing osteoporotic fractures is not explained by bone mineral density, which was found to be normal or paradoxically higher than controls in several studies, thus claiming for further investigations. This review summarizes some of the newest findings about factors that contribute to bone alterations in diabetic patients. RECENT FINDINGS: Most recent evidences showed that bone of diabetic patients presents a cortical porosity which is not captured by the bidimensional densitometric measurements as performed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Other studies investigated bone matrix searching for molecular mechanisms underlying the reduced bone strength in diabetic patients. The loss of bone biomechanical properties in diabetes has been associated to the glycated collagen matrix induced by hyperglycemia. Other studies analyzed the effect on bone microarchitecture of the most common antidiabetic drugs. SUMMARY: Disease management of fracture risk in diabetic patients needs new methodologies of assessment that also take into account bone quality and evaluation of clinical risk factors, including balance, visual, and neurological impairments.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus are known to increase fracture risk. It is known that type 1 diabetes mellitus is associated with lower bone mineral density, but for type 2 diabetes mellitus, the real risk of increasing osteoporotic fractures is not explained by bone mineral density, which was found to be normal or paradoxically higher than controls in several studies, thus claiming for further investigations. This review summarizes some of the newest findings about factors that contribute to bone alterations in diabeticpatients. RECENT FINDINGS: Most recent evidences showed that bone of diabeticpatients presents a cortical porosity which is not captured by the bidimensional densitometric measurements as performed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Other studies investigated bone matrix searching for molecular mechanisms underlying the reduced bone strength in diabeticpatients. The loss of bone biomechanical properties in diabetes has been associated to the glycated collagen matrix induced by hyperglycemia. Other studies analyzed the effect on bone microarchitecture of the most common antidiabetic drugs. SUMMARY: Disease management of fracture risk in diabeticpatients needs new methodologies of assessment that also take into account bone quality and evaluation of clinical risk factors, including balance, visual, and neurological impairments.