Bone mineral density in postmenopausal diabetic women

Abstract EN

Objectives : investigate the relation between type-2 diabetes mellitus and bone mineral density and bone turnover markers in postmenopausal women.

Subject and method : it is a cross-sectional study done in Al-Razi Orthopedic Hospital and in diabetic outpatient clinics this study was carried over the period from January 2005 to January 2006 ,in which (79) post-menopausal females with clinical proven type 2 diabetes mellitus who were receiving anti-diabetic medication.

And, (42) non-diabetic age-matched control females were studied.

All participants were examined at proximal femur bone mineral density (BMD) by means of Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) method.

The values of bone desorption marker, urinary deoxy pyridinoline (Dpd) and bone-formation marker, serum osteocalcin (OC) were measured for both groups.

The degree of glycemic control (HBAIC) was measured for all diabetic patients.

The data was analyzed using standard statistical methods.

Results : the values of bone formation marker (OC) and BMD were significantly lower among diabetic patients compared to controls (P < 0.001) while values of bone desorption marker (Dpd) were significantly higher in diabetic group compared to non-diabetics (P < 0.001).

There was direct correlation between urinary Dpd and HBAIC which indicates that the degree of glycemic control may influence the rate of bone desorption in type 2 diabetes.

There was an inverse correlation between BMD and HBAIC which indicate that poor glycemic control will adversely affect bone mineral density and increases bone fragility.

Conclusion : based on these data, type 2 diabetic patients have lower (BMD) compared to non-diabetic controls.

The main implicated factor is the enhanced bone-desorption, which was found to be inversely related to degree of glycemic control.

So rigid glycemic control will reduce bone-resorption and supress the rate of bone-mass loss among type 2 diabetic patients.