Osteoid osteoma is an osteocalcinoma affecting glucose metabolism

Abstract

Osteocalcin is a hormone secreted by osteoblasts, which regulates energy metabolism by increasing β-cell proliferation, insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity, and energy expenditure. This has been demonstrated in mice, but to date, the evidence implicating osteocalcin in the regulation of energy metabolism in humans are indirect. To address this question more directly, we asked whether a benign osteoblastic tumor, such as osteoma osteoid in young adults, may secrete osteocalcin. The study was designed to assess the effect of surgical resection of osteoid osteoma on osteocalcin and blood glucose levels in comparison with patients undergoing knee surgery and healthy volunteers. Blood collections were performed the day of surgery and the following morning after overnight fasting. Patients and controls were recruited in the orthopedic surgery department of New York Presbiterian Hospital, NY-USA and Hospices Civils de Lyon, France. Seven young males were included in the study: two had osteoid osteoma, two underwent knee surgery, and three were healthy volunteers. After resection of the osteoid osteomas, we observed a decrease of osteocalcin by 62% and 30% from the initial levels. Simultaneously, blood glucose increased respectively by 32% and 15%. Bone turnover markers were not affected. This case study shows for the first time that osteocalcin in humans affects blood glucose level. This study also suggests that ostoid osteoma may be considered, at least in part, as an osteocalcinoma.

Lower serum osteocalcin is associated with more severe metabolic syndrome in elderly men from the MINOS cohort

“…Moreover, we have previously shown that after surgical resection of osteoid osteoma in young men, serum osteocalcin level decreased, whereas blood glucose increased, thereby providing the first direct evidence of the action of osteocalcin in humans (30). Furthermore, our results are in line with those observed by Bao et al (17) in a high-cardiovascular risk population of men who underwent coronary angiography.…”

Endocrine role of bone: recent and emerging perspectives beyond osteocalcin

“…Results from one recent study have indicated that there is a sex-specific action of the bone-energy homoeostasis axis with OC being associated with improved metabolic state via adiponectin in females, and via testosterone in males (Buday et al 2013). Direct clinical evidence has been reported for the role of OC in energy metabolism, via the removal of an OC-producing osteoid osteoma, which resulted in elevated serum glucose, potentially associated with decreased levels of undercarboxylated OC (Confavreux et al 2012). This conflicting results may be attributable to the lack of a commercially available undercarboxylated assay, or differing methodologies (Ducy 2011).…”

MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: The endocrine role of the skeleton: background and clinical evidence

“…The first direct evidence in humans showing that OC regulates energy metabolism might be provided by Confavreux et al (73). Two patients undergoing surgical resection of an OC-producing osteoid osteoma are described.…”

“…These studies are cross-sectional studies that can demonstrate associations but not causality except for the osteoid osteoma cases (73). Even if some human studies remain negative, there is a growing body of evidence in humans showing that ucOC improves glucose metabolism as it does in rodents.…”