Endocrine Abstracts

Background and aims: According to modern researchers, in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D), the presence of diabetic osteopathy and an increasing fracture risk is evident. However, the determination of bone mineral density only is not enough to adequately assess the quality of the bone. Thus, the aim of the study was to study of the lumbar spine trabecular bone score as qualitative bone characteristic in T1DM men.

Materials and methods: 52 males with T1DM (mean age: 32.4 (21.2–44.9) yrs, duration of DM: 13 (7–20) yrs, age of manifestation: 19 (14–23) yrs, BMI: 23.69 (19.38–27.96) kg/μ²; HbA1c: 8.2 (7.6–8.9) %) and 31 controls, comparable in age and anthropometric data (mean age: 30.5 (23.5–41.3) yrs, U=687.5; P=0.707; BMI: 24.57 (21.46–28.39) kg/μ², U=571.5; P=0.119). The research involved general clinic examination, dual energy X–ray absorptiometry (DXA) at lumbar spine regio performed on «PRODIGY LUNAR». Bone mineral density (BMD) was taken as a quantitative assessment and trabecular bone score (TBS) was used as qualitatively parameter.). Z–score of −2.0 or less was regarded as «low bone mineral density».

Results: Low BMD was detected in 19.2% of the surveyed patients with T1DM and 6.5% of control. Lower L1–L4 BMD and TBS were significantly found in patients with diabetes compared to controls: BMD 1.13 (0.92–1.22) vs 1.25 (1.07–1.43) g/cm²; U=411; P=0.001; TBS 1.42 (1.23–1.46) vs 1.46 (1.32–1.57); U=266.5; P=0.028), and T-score TBS −0.30 (−1.90–0.50) vs 0.10 (−1.025–0.90); U=233; P=0.042). There were no significant differences in L1–L4 Z-score TBS in T1DM men compared with control: 0.40 (−0.70–1.25) vs. −0.70 (-0.90–0.50) g/sm²; (U=97; P=0.077). There was a definite significant correlation between BMD (L1–L4) and TBS (L1–L4) – r²=0.41, P=0.001. However, similar results were not obtained in subgroups of T1DM men (r²=0.32, P=0.051) and controls (r²=0.42, P=0.051).

Conclusions: The data confirmed low bone mineral density and trabecular bone in the lumbar spine in type T1DM men. Thus mechanisms responsible for the formation of healthy bones require further research.