title: Relation of osteocalcin with insulin resistance and histopathological changes of non alcoholic fatty liver disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteocalcin is a hormone with a complex cross-talk between adipose tissue and the skeleton. The aim of the present study was to explore the relation of osteocalcin with histopathological changes of NALFD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A population of 69 NAFLD patients was analyzed. A liver biopsy was realized. Weight, fat mass, body mass index, basal glucose, insulin, insulin resistance (HOMA), total cholesterol, LDLcholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and osteocalcin levels were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were divided in two groups by median osteocalcin value (11.34 ng/mL), group I (patients with the low values) and group II (patients with the high values). Only liver fibrosis frequencies were different between groups (group I: 22.9% vs group II: 9.4%; p < 0.05). Patients in group I had higher levels of glucose (115.6 ± 28.1 mg/dL vs. 103.7 ± 24.3 mg/dL; p < 0.04), HOMA (4.6 ± 3.1 units vs. 3.6 ± 1.8 units; p < 0.04), weight (102.9 ± 32.4 kg vs. 85.9 ± 16.8 kg; p = 0.002) and body mass index (38.3 ± 11.4 kg/m(2) vs. 30.1 ± 5.7 kg/m(2); p = 0.001)) than patients in group II. Osteocalcin was inverse correlated with glucose (r =-0.4; p = 0.002) and HOMA (r = -0.3:p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Osteocalcin is associated with liver fibrosis. However, this association disappeared in a multivariate analysis, and HOMA remained as an independent factor.
authors.affiliation: Center of Investigation of Endocrinology and Clinical Nutrition, Medicine School and Unit of Investigation, Hospital Rio Hortega, University of Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: Rocio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aller
authors.forename: Jose Luis Perez
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Castrillon
authors.forename: Daniel Antonio
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: de Luis
authors.forename: Rocio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Conde
authors.forename: Olatz
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Izaola
authors.forename: Manuel González
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Sagrado
authors.forename: María Concepción
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Velasco
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pacheco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015675:Osteocalcin