THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SERUM OSTEOCALCIN AND ALBUMIN LEVELS IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

PURPOSE: Serum albumine levels frequently use to determine the nutritional aspect in hemodialysis patients. Osteocalcin is a protein which synthesized by osteoblastic cells and sensitive marker of bone formation. Relationship between osteocalcin and malnutrition has not been described completely. Previous study on children with protein energy malnutrition (PEM) and Kwashiorcor showed that decreased serum osteocalcin concentrations (5,6). For this reason in this study we planned to examine the association between serum osteocalcin levels with albumin and others nutritional markers in hemodialysis patients.

MATERIAL and METHOD: 155 patients were included in our study (mean age: 46.1 ±17.0 years, mean duration of dialysis time: 37.2±32.3months). According to serum albumin levels patients were divided into two groups. Patients whose albumin levels were less than 3,5 g/dL (n=45) were included in Group I, whereas patients whose albumin levels were equal to higher than 3,5 g/dL (n=110) were included in Group 11. All of the patients' body mass index (BMI), triceps skin fold thickness (TSFT) and biochemical parameters such as serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, total cholesterol, hemoglobin, transferrin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), osteocalcin (OC), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured

RESULTS: ln group I patients were older than Group II and BMI, serum Hb, BUN, creatinine, potasyum, calcium and, phosphorus levels were less than Group 11. Serum OC levels were significantly lower in Group I patients than Group II. Additionally, serum OC levels were found to be positively correlated with iPTH and ALP

CONCLUISON: In conclusion, in dialysis patients serum osteocalcin level is effected with uremic bone disease and it is found strongly associated with only albumin not others nutritional parameters so that it is used to be a determine of malnutrition need to more advantage studies.