Bone mineralization is elevated and less heterogeneous in adults with type 2 diabetes and osteoarthritis compared to controls with osteoarthritis alone.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether trabecular bone mineralization differed in adults with type 2 diabetes compared to adults without type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
Proximal femur specimens were obtained following a total hip replacement procedure from men and women ≥65 years of age with and without type 2 diabetes. A scanning electron microscope was used for quantitative backscattered electron imaging (qBEI) analysis of trabecular bone samples from the femoral neck. Gray scale images (pixel size=5.6 μm(2)) were uploaded to ImageJ software and gray level (GL) values were converted to calcium concentrations (weight [wt] % calcium [Ca]) using data obtained with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. The following bone mineralization density distribution (BMDD) outcomes were collected: the weighted mean bone calcium concentration (CaMEAN), the most frequently occurring bone calcium concentration (CaPEAK) and mineralization heterogeneity (CaWIDTH). Differences between groups were assessed using the Student's t-test for normally distributed data and Mann-Whitney U-test for non-normally distributed data. An alpha value of <0.05 was considered significant.


RESULTS
Thirty-five Caucasian participants were recruited (mean [standard deviation, SD] age, 75.5 [6.5]years): 14 adults with type 2 diabetes (years since type 2 diabetes diagnosis, 13.5 [7.4]years) and 21 adults without type 2 diabetes. In the adults with type 2 diabetes, bone CaMEAN was 4.9% greater (20.36 [0.98]wt.% Ca versus 19.40 [1.07]wt.% Ca, p=0.015) and CaWIDTH was 9.4% lower (median [interquartile range] 3.55 [2.99-4.12]wt.% Ca versus 3.95 [0.71]wt.% Ca, p<0.001) compared to controls. There was no between-group difference in CaPEAK (21.12 [0.97]wt.% Ca for type 2 diabetes versus 20.44 [1.30]wt.% Ca for controls, p=0.121).


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of elevated mean calcium concentration in bone and lower mineralization heterogeneity in adults with type 2 diabetes may have deleterious effects on the biomechanical properties of bone. These microscopic alterations in bone mineralization, which may be mediated by suppressed bone remodeling, further elucidate higher fracture risk in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St West, Hamilton ON, Canada L8S 4K1. pritchar@hhsc.ca
J M
JM
Pritchard
A
A
Papaioannou
C
C
Tomowich
L M
LM
Giangregorio
S A
SA
Atkinson
K A
KA
Beattie
J D
JD
Adachi
J
J
DeBeer
M
M
Winemaker
V
V
Avram
H P
HP
Schwarcz
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012015:Reference Standards
D002118:Calcium