ABSTRACT
Background@#Osteocalcin is known to regulate energy metabolism. Recently, metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been found to be associated with reduced levels of osteocalcin in men, as well as in postmenopausal women. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum osteocalcin and MetS in premenopausal women, compared with that in postmenopausal women. @*Methods@#This cross-sectional study was based on 5,896 participants who completed a health screening examination. They were classified according to their menopausal status. Each group was subdivided into non-MetS and MetS groups according to the modified National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Serum osteocalcin levels were measured using the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. @*Results@#Serum osteocalcin level was significantly lower in women with MetS than in those without MetS, after adjusting for confounders (14.12 ± 0.04 vs. 13.17 ± 0.13 [P = 0.004] in premenopausal women, and 20.34 ± 0.09 vs. 19.62 ± 0.21 [P < 0.001] in postmenopausal women), regardless of their menopausal status. Serum osteocalcin levels decreased correspondingly with an increasing number of MetS elements (P for trend < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that waist circumference (β = −0.085 [P < 0.001] and β = −0.137 [P < 0.001]) and hemoglobin A1c (β = −0.09 [P < 0.001] and β = −0.145 [P < 0.001]) were independent predictors of osteocalcin in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Triglyceride levels were also independently associated with osteocalcin levels in premenopausal women (β = −0.004 [P < 0.013]). The odds ratio (OR) for MetS was significantly higher in the lowest quartile than in the highest quartile of serum osteocalcin levels after adjusting for age, alkaline phosphatase, uric acid, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and body mass index in all women (OR, 2.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.49–2.68) as well as in premenopausal (OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.39–3.58) and postmenopausal (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.26–3.23) subgroups. @*Conclusion@#Lower serum osteocalcin concentrations were significantly associated with MetS in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women and were therefore independent of menopausal status.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Osteocalcin is known to regulate energy metabolism. Recently, metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been found to be associated with reduced levels of osteocalcin in men, as well as in postmenopausal women. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum osteocalcin and MetS in premenopausal women, compared with that in postmenopausal women. @*Methods@#This cross-sectional study was based on 5,896 participants who completed a health screening examination. They were classified according to their menopausal status. Each group was subdivided into non-MetS and MetS groups according to the modified National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Serum osteocalcin levels were measured using the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. @*Results@#Serum osteocalcin level was significantly lower in women with MetS than in those without MetS, after adjusting for confounders (14.12 ± 0.04 vs. 13.17 ± 0.13 [P = 0.004] in premenopausal women, and 20.34 ± 0.09 vs. 19.62 ± 0.21 [P < 0.001] in postmenopausal women), regardless of their menopausal status. Serum osteocalcin levels decreased correspondingly with an increasing number of MetS elements (P for trend < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that waist circumference (β = −0.085 [P < 0.001] and β = −0.137 [P < 0.001]) and hemoglobin A1c (β = −0.09 [P < 0.001] and β = −0.145 [P < 0.001]) were independent predictors of osteocalcin in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Triglyceride levels were also independently associated with osteocalcin levels in premenopausal women (β = −0.004 [P < 0.013]). The odds ratio (OR) for MetS was significantly higher in the lowest quartile than in the highest quartile of serum osteocalcin levels after adjusting for age, alkaline phosphatase, uric acid, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and body mass index in all women (OR, 2.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.49–2.68) as well as in premenopausal (OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.39–3.58) and postmenopausal (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.26–3.23) subgroups. @*Conclusion@#Lower serum osteocalcin concentrations were significantly associated with MetS in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women and were therefore independent of menopausal status.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated the association between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and coronary artery calcification (CAC). This study investigated this association in patients who visited a health promotion center.METHODS: This study included patients who visited the Health Promotion Center at a University Hospital between January 2014 and December 2015. Serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level, free thyroxine level, and the CAC score (CACS) were measured in all patients. Patients were classified into euthyroid and SCH groups. An independent t-test and chi-squared test were performed to analyze the general characteristics. Patients were further classified into three groups based on serum TSH levels (serum TSH level < 4.0, 4.0–10, and >10 µIU/mL), and the one-way analysis of variance test was performed to assess the clinical differences among three groups. Partial correlation coefficients were calculated to assess the correlation between serum TSH levels and cardiovascular risk factors. Patients with CACS=0 were classified into the non-calcification group, and those with CACS >0 were classified into the calcification group. The odds ratios of SCH to CAC were analyzed using logistic regression analysis.RESULTS: Serum TSH levels were significantly associated with body mass index, waist circumference, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. The risk of obesity, diabetes, and high triglyceride levels (>150 mg/dL) was significantly higher in the SCH group. Moreover, the SCH group with TSH levels >10 µIU/mL showed a significant risk of CAC (odds ratio, 3.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.10–9.21).CONCLUSION: SCH with TSH levels >10 µIU/mL is independently associated with the CACS.