The association of osteocalcin and adiponectin with glucose metabolism in nondiabetic postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study was designed to determine if osteocalcin is associated with insulin resistance, metabolic risk factors and adiponectin levels in nondiabetic postmenopausal women.

METHODS

A total of 87 menopausal nondiabetic subjects were enrolled into the study. Levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), insulin and serum lipids were determined. To estimate insulin sensitivity, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) and the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) were used. Serum total osteocalcin and adiponectin levels were measured and the features of metabolic syndrome were identified.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 54.7 years. Among the participants, 28.7% were obese (body mass index, BMI, ≥30). Insulin resistance was detected by HOMA-IR in 42.5% and by the QUICKI index in 63.2% of the cases. Metabolic syndrome was present in 29.8% of the patients. Neither the baseline characteristics nor the metabolic risk factors were correlated with osteocalcin or adiponectin levels (p > 0.05). When the patients were analyzed regarding BMI, osteocalcin levels were significantly lower in overweight women. Serum adiponectin levels were significantly lower in women with metabolic syndrome.

CONCLUSION

No correlation between total osteocalcin and FPG, fasting insulin and insulin resistance parameters was found in nondiabetic postmenopausal women. Serum levels of adiponectin were associated with metabolic syndrome.