Lower bone turnover markers in metabolic syndrome and diabetes: The population-based Study of Health in Pomerania

•Associations between bone and energy metabolism were analyzed in 2671 adults.•Higher bone turnover was associated with lower odds for metabolic syndrome (MetS) or type 2 diabetes (T2DM).•Higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D was also associated with lower odds for MetS or T2DM.•Parathyroid hormone was not associated with MetS or T2DM.•These results suggest lower bone remodelling in subjects with MetS or T2DM.

Background and aimsAccumulating evidence demonstrates an important interaction between bone and energy metabolism. We aimed to study the associations of three bone turnover markers (BTM: osteocalcin, beta-crosslaps, procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide) as well as of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone with metabolic syndrome (MetS) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a large population-based cohort.Methods and resultsThis cross-sectional study comprised 2671 adult men and women participating in the first follow-up of the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-1). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess sex-specific associations between the BTMs, 25-hydroxyvitamin D or parathyroid hormone and metabolic disease. All models were adjusted for age, body mass index, smoking status, physical activity, estimated glomerular filtration rate and month of blood sampling. The models for women were further adjusted for menopausal status. Higher BTM or 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were associated with significantly lower odds for metabolic disease, while there was no association between parathyroid hormone and MetS or T2DM.ConclusionOur results contribute to the accumulating evidence of a cross-sectional association between high BTM or 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and a lower prevalence of MetS or T2DM. Further research is necessary to evaluate the mechanisms underlying these results.