Impact of metabolic syndrome and its components on bone remodeling in adolescents

Osteoporosis and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are diseases that have serious public health consequences, reducing the quality of life of patients and increasing morbidity and mortality, with substantial healthcare expenditures.

To evaluate the impact of MetS on bone mineral density (BMD) and biochemical markers of bone formation and resorption in adolescents with excess weight.

A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was performed that evaluated 271 adolescents of both sexes (10 to 16 years). From the total sample, 42 adolescents with excess weight and the presence of MetS (14%) were selected. A further 42 adolescents with excess weight and without MetS were chosen, matched for chronological age, bone age, and pubertal developmental criteria to those with MetS, for each sex. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure collection, and biochemical tests were performed in all adolescents, as well as evaluation of BMD and the bone biomarkers osteocalcin (OC), bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), and carboxy-terminal telopeptide (S-CTx).

The adolescents with excess weight and MetS exhibited significantly lower transformed BMD and concentrations of BAP, OC, and S-CTx compared to the matched group, except for OC in boys. A negative and significant correlation was observed between total body BMD and BAP (r = -0.55568; p = 0.005), OC (r = -0.81760; p = < .000), and S-CTx (r = -0.53838; p = 0.011) in girls.

Metabolic syndrome may be associated with reduced bone mineral density and biochemical markers of bone formation and resorption in adolescents with excess weight.