CHANGES IN BONE TURNOVER ON DEOXYPYRIDINOLINE LEVELS IN DIABETIC-PATIENTS

In this study, we evaluated bone turnover in 35 patients with non- ins ulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with no complications and in 35 healt hy volunteers who formed the control group and whose ages matched thos e of the patients. We determined serum osteocalcin (OC) and total alka line phosphatase levels as markers of bone formation, and urinary deox ypyridinoline (DPD) and urinary calcium levels as markers of bone reso rption. Statistical comparison of the levels of these markers between sexes in diabetic and control groups revealed that the OC levels were significantly decreased in males and females in the diabetic group com pared with those of the control group. No significant difference was o bserved for other markers. It was found that the OC levels of diabetic subjects were not affected by the type of therapy. No statistically s ignificant difference was found in serum calcium, phosphorus and magne sium levels between the diabetic and the control groups. In our study, the finding that, in spite of the decrease in the OC levels in the di abetic group no difference was observed in DPD levels, was attributed to the fact that only the formation phase was affected in diabetes, wh ile the resorption phase remained unaltered. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd, All rights reserved.