Nutrients
Role of Osteocalcin in the Regulation of Glucose Metabolism in Children and Adolescents with Obesity
By Sbilordo S, Drago SFA, Catalano A and 10 others.
Abstract
Background
Osteocalcin (OC) is a bone-derived hormone increasingly implicated in glucose and lipid metabolism. Although its metabolic role has been extensively investigated in adults, evidence in pediatric populations remains limited. This exploratory study aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum OC levels and glucose metabolism in children and adolescents with obesity.
Methods
A single-center, retrospective study was conducted in a cohort of pediatric patients with essential obesity. Auxological and biochemical parameters were assessed, including fasting glucose, insulin, lipid profile, liver enzymes, thyroid function, calcium-phosphorus metabolism, vitamin D3, parathormone (PTH), C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), and OC. Insulin resistance was evaluated using the HOMA-IR index (>2.5 considered positive). Correlation analyses were performed to assess the associations between serum OC levels and metabolic, biochemical, and clinical parameters.