Circulating undercarboxylated osteocalcin and gingival crevicular fluid tumour necrosis factor-α in children.
BACKGROUND
Osteocalcin, a protein secreted by osteoblasts during bone formation, is negatively associated with adult periodontal disease. Little is known about this association in children.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the extent to which plasma undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) is associated with gingival crevicular fluid tumour necrosis factor-alpha (GCF TNF-α) - a potential marker of gingival inflammation - in children.


METHODS
We used data from the Quebec Adipose and Lifestyle InvesTigation in Youth cohort, an ongoing longitudinal study on the natural history of obesity among Caucasian children with a family history of obesity in Quebec, Canada. This cross-sectional analysis from the baseline visit includes 120 children aged 8-10 years. Plasma ucOC and GCF TNF-α levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Linear regression analyses, adjusting for age, gender, family income, sexual maturity stage, daily physical activity, obesity, and fasting glucose were conducted, with TNF-α level as the dependent variable.


RESULTS
A 1-ng/ml increase in ucOC was associated with a 0.96% decrease (95% confidence interval (CI): -1.69, -0.23) in GCF TNF-α level.


CONCLUSIONS
A negative association between a marker of bone formation and a marker of gingival inflammation was observed as early as childhood among Caucasian children with a family history of obesity.
Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, INRS-Armand-Frappier Institute, Laval, QC, Canada.
Khady
K
Kâ
Marie-Claude
MC
Rousseau
Simon D
SD
Tran
Mari T
MT
Kaartinen
Vamsee D
VD
Myneni
Mélanie
M
Henderson
Belinda
B
Nicolau
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000145:classification; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000145:classification; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood*; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D010512:Periodontal Index; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015675:Osteocalcin
bone; gingivitis; inflammation; obesity; osteocalcin; periodontal diseases; tumour necrosis factor-alpha