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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #289951
Title: The role of osteocalcin in human glucose metabolism: marker or mediator?

Author
item BOOTH, SARAH - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item CENTI, AMANDA - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item SMITH, STEVEN - Sanford And Burnham Medical Research Institute
item GUNDBERG, CAREN - Yale School Of Medicine

Submitted to: Nature Reviews Endocrinology
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2012
Publication Date: 1/1/2013
Citation: Booth, S.L., Centi, A., Smith, S.R., Gundberg, C. 2013. The role of osteocalcin in human glucose metabolism: marker or mediator?. Nature Reviews Endocrinology. Jan;9(1):43-65.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Increasing evidence supports an association between the skeleton and energy metabolism. These interactions are mediated by a variety of hormones, cytokines, and nutrients. Here, the evidence for a role of osteocalcin in the regulation of glucose metabolism in humans is reviewed. Osteocalcin is a bone matrix protein that regulates hydroxyapatite size and shape through its vitamin K-dependent gamma-carboxylated form. In circulation, the concentration of osteocalcin is a measure of bone formation. The undercarboxylated form of osteocalcin is reported to be active in glucose metabolism in mice. Total serum osteocalcin concentrations in humans are inversely associated with measures of glucose metabolism; however, human data are inconclusive with regard to the role of uncarboxylated osteocalcin in glucose metabolism because most studies do not account for the influence of vitamin K on the proportion of undercarboxylated osteocalcin or differentiate between the total and uncarboxylated forms of osteocalcin. Furthermore, most human studies do not concomitantly measure other bone turnover markers to isolate the role of osteocalcin as a measure of bone formation from its effect on glucose metabolism. Carefully designed studies are required to define the role of osteocalcin and its carboxylated or undercarboxylated forms in the regulation of glucose metabolism in humans