Association between bone metabolism regulators and arterial stiffness in type 2 diabetes patients

Background and Aim: Osteopontin (OPN), osteonectin (ON) and osteocalcin (OC) play an important role in the development of vascular calcifications, but it is unclear whether these bone metabolism regulators contribute to the development of arterial stiffness in type 2 diabetes patients. We therefore aim to determine the relationship between plasma concentrations of OPN, ON, OC and arterial stiffness in type 2 diabetes patients. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 1003 type 2 diabetes patients included in the Second Manifestations of ARTerial disease (SMART)-cohort. Generalized linear models were used to evaluate the relation between plasma levels of OPN, ON and OC and arterial stiffness as measured by pulse pressure (PP), ankle-brachial index (ABI) (≥0.9), carotid artery distension and an arterial stiffness summary score. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, kidney function, diabetes duration and diastolic blood pressure. Higher OPN plasma levels were significantly related to a lower ABI (β-0.013; 95%CI −0.024 to −0.002) and a higher arterial stiffness summary score (OR1.24; 95%CI 1.03–1.49). OPN levels were not related to PP (β 0.59; 95%CI −0.63–1.81) or absolute carotid artery distention (β −7.03; 95%CI −20.00–5.93). ON and OC plasma levels were not related to any of the arterial stiffness measures. Conclusion: Only elevated plasma levels of OPN are associated with increased arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetes as measured by the ankle-brachial index and arterial stiffness summary score. These findings indicate that OPN may be involved in the pathophysiology of arterial stiffness and call for further clinical investigation.