Use of osteocalcin and deoxypyridinoline for early detection of osteoporosis in obese children

Abstract EN

Background: Osteoporosis in obese people is a major health problem.

Awareness of osteoporosis and its complications is growing.

Early diagnosis by measurement of bone formation and turnover markers and treatment can prevent and reduce the disease complications especially fractures.

Aim: Early detection of osteoporosis in obese children by using bone formation and bone turnover markers.

Methods: A case-control sample of 80 pre- pubertal, Egyptian children aged (6- 10) years were divided into 40 cases with simple obesity (BMIR 95th percentile) and 40 controls (non- obese).

Physical examination that included weight, height, hip circumference and waist circumference were performed.

Body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio were calculated.

Blood and urine samples were collected.

Serum was separated and assayed for Osteocalcin.

Urine was collected, centrifuged and assayed for deoxypyridinoline.

Results: Males were more than females in controls, cases and total number, where they were (32 males and 8 females) in controls, (26 males and 14 females) in cases and (58 males and 22 females) in the total number.

Family history of obesity was negative in 42.5% of controls, while it was positively related in 37.5% of cases.

Statistically significant difference (p< 0.01) was found between obese and non-obese children as regards weight where the Mean± SD was (55.45± 11.68) in obese and was (32.83± 8.57) in non-obese group.

And for the BMI, Mean ±SD was (18.64± 2.75) in obese and was (31.03± 3.75) in the non-obese.

Serum Osteocalcin showed a significant decrease in obese children in comparison to the non-obese group (p< 0.01).

While, deoxypyridinoline, there was no significant difference between obese and non-obese children.

(p> 0.05).

Conclusion: Osteocalcin can be used as an early predictor of osteoporosis in obese children, While urinary DPD, as it did not give us any significant data in addition to its high price, so we do not recommend its use in this early age.