Association of osteoprotegerin and rankl levels with insulin resistance in pubertal obese children

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Osteoprotegerin (OPG)/“receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B-ligand” (RANKL) system has an important role in the remodeling of bone through regulation of osteoclastogenesis. We aimed to detect OPG and RANKL levels, particularly in obese children in the pubertal period and to investigate whether these parameters correlate with insulin resistance in childhood. Our study included 66 obese children ranging in age from 9.1 to 16 years, and 22 non-obese children ranging in age from 10.5 to 16 years. Blood glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol levels were measured for all cases; HOMA-IR, Quicki index and atherogenic index were calculated. Serum OPG and RANKL levels were also measured. OPG and RANKL levels did not show any difference between obese and non-obese children (P&gt;.05). No difference in these 2 parameters were observed among the children with and without insulin resistance (P&gt;.05). No correlation could be established between the OPG, the HOMA-IR, Quick and atherogenic indices. Obesity and insulin resistance are believed to show their effect in the later period of life to become able to change some of the parameters.</jats:p>

Decreased level of soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-κβ ligand (sRANKL) in overweight and obese children

“…In a total scholar population of 600 children between the ages of 6 and 12 years, higher sRANKL levels were found in those with central obesity determined by the WC and negatively correlated with HDL-C (40). In contrast, in another study, sRANKL levels in groups of obese children did not differ compared to the control group and did not correlate with parameters describing nutritional status (41,42) and with atherogenic and insulin resistance indices (41). Our research has produced different results.…”

Serum osteoprotegerin and cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight and obese children

“…Studies in adult populations emphasized that an elevated serum OPG level is interpreted as a compensatory mechanism to protect the body from the acceleration of atherosclerosis and bone resorption [44,45]. As is in accordance with the research of Yesilkaya et al [42], the conflicting results of the above-mentioned studies could indicate that longer exposure to obesity and metabolic disturbances could be required to produce clinical effects and changes in serum OPG levels. The main limitation of our study was the small sample size, which may explain some of the weak correlations and insignificant results.…”

“…The relationships between nutritional status, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and OPG levels are not clear and reports available in literature are inconsistent. Yesilkaya et al [42] showed that there are no statistically significant differences in serum OPG and RANKL levels between obese and non-obese children and there are no associations between OPG and RANKL and weight SDS, BMI and BMI SDS. In our study of children and adolescents in a similar age range, in contrast to the above-mentioned results, we observed a tendency towards negative dependencies between OPG and body fat mass parameters.…”

“…children with normal HOMA-IR values, as well as no correlation with HOMA-IR and QUICKI index [27,42]. The link between OPG and insulin resistance has not been clearly delineated.…”

“…Also, in a group of 106 obese patients, the positive association of OPG with TC and TG disappeared after adjustments were made for age [26]. Only Yesilkaya et al [42] analyzed the relationship between OPG and lipid profiles and atherogenic index in obese children, obtaining no statistical dependence. Our study was in agreement with the previously mentioned observations [45].…”