Introduction
Total osteocalcin (TOC) comprises of undercarboxylated (ucOC) and carboxylated (cOC) forms. In non-pregnant populations, low ucOC and cOC levels predict incident type 2 diabetes(1-4). Studies in pregnancy, however, demonstrate higher TOC in gestational diabetes (GDM) compared to controls(5, 6).
Aims/Methods
We evaluated the relationship between glucose and osteocalcin levels, using data from a prior randomised controlled trial of vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy. 209 women (gestational age <20 weeks) commenced vitamin D, 5000 or 400 IU daily, at a mean first visit gestation of 14.7 wks. 179 underwent OGTT at 26-28 weeks, 19 developed GDM. TOC, ucOC, proportion ucOC (%ucOC), P1NP and C-telopeptide (CTX) were measured in 205 stored serum samples collected at first visit and 174 samples at 26-28 weeks. We assessed correlation between baseline OC levels, glucose measures at OGTT, and bone turnover markers. Logistic regression evaluated baseline %ucOC as a predictor of subsequent GDM, adjusting for GDM risk factors.
Results
Table 1 lists baseline characteristics and biochemistry. %ucOC but not ucOC was correlated with 2-hr glucose (r=0.22, p=0.003). Both ucOC and %ucOC correlated with BMI. ucOC positively correlated with CTX and P1NP (r=0.48, r=0.61 respectively, p<0.001), whereas %ucOC was negatively correlated with CTX and P1NP (r=-0.21, r =-0.34, p<0.01). OC levels did not change significantly between baseline and 26-28 weeks. The odds ratio (OR) for GDM for subjects with %ucOC values above the median (≥48.5% compared to <48.5%) was 4.07 (1.28-12.90, p=0.017). Higher %ucOC remained significantly associated with GDM after adjusting for parity, BMI, ethnicity, family history of diabetes, maternal age, and 25OHvitD level at 26-28 weeks, OR 3.47 (1.02-11.81, p=0.046).
Conclusion
Higher %ucOC before 20 weeks’ gestation was associated with higher rates of GDM and higher 2-hr OGTT values. Data support a relationship between bone and glucose metabolism. Cause or direction of effect remains unknown.