Objective To investigate the changes of bone mineral density (BMD) and the bone metabolism markers at different stages of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods Fifty-one T2DM patients with normal albuminuria, 40 DN patients with microalbuminuria, 28 DN patients with clinical albuminuria, and 20 DN patients with renal insufficiency were selected. BMD and the bone metabolism markers in all these patients were detected. Results The concentration of 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (25-OH-D3) was the highest in normal albuminuria group, and it decreased gradually with the deterioration of renal function in DN groups (P<0.05). The serum concentrations of bone γ-caboxyglutamic acid-containing protein (BGP) and total N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen (T-PINP) in DN groups were lower than those in normal albuminuria group (P<0.05). The concentration of β-C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (βCTX) in DN group was higher than that in normal albuminuria group (P<0.05). Serum level of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in renal insufficiency was significantly higher than that in the other 3 groups (P<0.05), and no significant difference among the other 3 groups were observed (P>0.05). BMD of each part in the macroalbuminuria group and renal insufficiency was lower than that in normal albuminuria group (P<0.05). Multiple correlation analysis showed that BMD of the lumbar vertebrae and the femoral neck was negatively correlated with age, serum Cr, BUN, urinary MA/Cr, βCTX, and PTH. It was positively correlated with serum Ca, 25-OH-D3, BGP, and T-PINP. BMD of the lumbar vertebrae and the femoral neck in female patients was negatively correlated with the duration of menopause. Conclusion Along with the gradual decline of renal function in T2DM patients, the extent of bone loss gradually aggravates. The bone metabolic markers, such as T-PINP, BGP, βCTX, and 25-OH-D3, are more sensitive than BMD to reflect the changes of bone metabolism at the early stage of DN. BMD of DN patients is associated with various factors including age, duration of menopause, urinary MA/Cr, and 25-OH-D3. |