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

INTRODUCTION: 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. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of MetS on bone mineral density (BMD) and biochemical markers of bone formation and resorption in adolescents with excess weight. METHOD: 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). RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSION: Metabolic syndrome may be associated with reduced bone mineral density and biochemical markers of bone formation and resorption in adolescents with excess weight.

Do metabolic syndrome and its components have an impact on bone mineral density in adolescents?

In recent years, there has been growing concern about the occurrence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) at an early age and its effects on bone mass in adolescents. Adolescence is considered a critical period for bone mass gain. Impaired bone acquisition during this phase can lead to "suboptimal" peak bone mass and increase the risk of osteopenia/osteoporosis and fractures in old age. The objective of this review was to perform a critical analysis of articles that specifically focus on this age group, evaluating the influence of MetS and its components on bone mineral density in adolescents. A possible relationship between this syndrome and bone mass has been demonstrated, but the number of studies addressing this topic in adolescents is small. Despite the scarcity of evidence, the results of those studies show that Metabolic Syndrome is negatively correlated with bone mass and also that some components of MetS are negatively correlated with bone mineral density in adolescents. However, the associations between MetS and bone mass development need to be further explored in the age group corresponding to adolescence. Further good-quality studies are necessary to complement the understanding of this relationship.