Role of Osteocalcin in the Regulation of Glucose Metabolism in Children and Adolescents with Obesity
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
- 2Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
- 3Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
- 4Centro di Riferimento Regionale Obesità Infantile, AOU G. Martino-Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
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. Results: Twenty-two of 33 patients (66.7%) had insulin resistance (HOMA-IR > 2.5) despite preserved glucose tolerance. Mean fasting glucose was 88.1 ± 10.83 mg/dL, fasting insulin 24.9 ± 13 μU/mL, and mean serum OC 112.1 ± 56.1 ng/mL. Serum OC levels were positively correlated with fasting insulin (r = 0.41, p = 0.023) and HOMA-IR (r = 0.46, p = 0.013). Conclusions: In children with obesity and preserved glucose tolerance, higher serum OC levels were associated with insulin resistance. Further studies in larger pediatric cohorts are needed to clarify this association and evaluate the potential role of OC as a biomarker of early metabolic dysregulation.
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BibTeX
@article{sbilordo2026role,
title = {{Role of Osteocalcin in the Regulation of Glucose Metabolism in Children and Adolescents with Obesity}},
author = {Serena Sbilordo and Selene Francesca Anna Drago and Antonino Catalano and Giuseppina Zirilli and Giuseppina Salzano and Fortunato Lombardo and Stefano Passanisi and Bruno Bombaci and Loredana Grasso and M’Hammed Aguennouz and Angela Alibrandi and Vincenzo Macaione and Mariella Valenzise},
journal = {Nutrients},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/nu18203418},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/20/3418},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Role of Osteocalcin in the Regulation of Glucose Metabolism in Children and Adolescents with Obesity
AU - Serena Sbilordo
AU - Selene Francesca Anna Drago
AU - Antonino Catalano
AU - Giuseppina Zirilli
AU - Giuseppina Salzano
AU - Fortunato Lombardo
AU - Stefano Passanisi
AU - Bruno Bombaci
AU - Loredana Grasso
AU - M’Hammed Aguennouz
AU - Angela Alibrandi
AU - Vincenzo Macaione
AU - Mariella Valenzise
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Nutrients
DO - 10.3390/nu18203418
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/20/3418
AB - 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. Results: Twenty-two of 33 patients (66.7%) had insulin resistance (HOMA-IR > 2.5) despite preserved glucose tolerance. Mean fasting glucose was 88.1 ± 10.83 mg/dL, fasting insulin 24.9 ± 13 μU/mL, and mean serum OC 112.1 ± 56.1 ng/mL. Serum OC levels were positively correlated with fasting insulin (r = 0.41, p = 0.023) and HOMA-IR (r = 0.46, p = 0.013). Conclusions: In children with obesity and preserved glucose tolerance, higher serum OC levels were associated with insulin resistance. Further studies in larger pediatric cohorts are needed to clarify this association and evaluate the potential role of OC as a biomarker of early metabolic dysregulation.
SN - 2072-6643
ER -