Osteocalcin is inversely associated with worse adipose tissue distribution and cardiovascular risk in autoimmune diabetes

BACKGROUND: Osteocalcin (OCN), whose release is impaired in diabetes, is suggested to regulate the adipose tissue (AT), being potentially associated with Cardiovascular risk (CVR). We aimed at evaluating whether OCN serum levels are associated with AT health and CVR in a primary CV prevention population with AD. METHODS: Body mass composition was assessed in sixty-two people with AD.Serum levels of OCN, adipokines and markers of endothelial dysfunction were measured. Regression models were used to test the association of OCN with markers of AT, endothelial dysfunction and CVR categories as determined by the Steno Type 1 Risk Engine (ST1RE) score. RESULTS: OCN was inversely associated with upper body fat deposition index (UBDFI) (Adj β coefficient -0.484, p value = 0.001). People in medium/high CV risk categories had higher UBFDI and lower OCN, while biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction were not different across CVR classes. A logistic binary regression for ST1RE score showed significant association of OCN with medium/high CVR category: OR [95 % CI for 1 SD increase: 0.541 [0.264--1.108], p = 0.093]. CONCLUSION: OCN is inversely associated with unhealthy AT, supporting the protective role of OCN in AT. Moreover, lower OCN levels are associated with increased CVR in AD population.