Intestinal and renal handling of calcium in human diabetes mellitus: influence of acute oral glucose loading and diabetic control

Time dependent changes in the intestinal Ca²⁺ absorption in rats with type I diabetes mellitus are associated with alterations in the intestinal redox state

The aim was to determine the intestinal Ca²⁺ absorption in type I diabetic rats after different times of STZ induction, as well as the gene and protein expression of molecules involved in both the transcellular and paracellular Ca²⁺ pathways. The redox state and the antioxidant enzymes of the enterocytes were also evaluated in duodenum from either diabetic or insulin-treated diabetic rats as compared to control rats. Male Wistar rats (150-200 g) were divided into two groups: 1) controls and 2) STZ-induced diabetic rats (60 mg/kg b.w.). A group of diabetic rats received insulin for five days. The insulin was adjusted daily to maintain a normal blood glucose level. Five 5 d after STZ injection, there was a reduction in the intestinal Ca²⁺ absorption, which was maintained for 30 d and disappeared at 60 d. Similar changes occurred in the GSH and (˙)O(2)(-) levels. The protein expression of molecules involved in the transcellular pathway increased at 5 and 30 d returning to control values at 60 d. Their mRNA levels declined considerably at 60 d. The gene and protein expression of claudin 2 was upregulated at 30 d. Catalase activity increased at 5 and 30 d normalizing at 60 d. To conclude, type I D.m. inhibits the intestinal Ca²⁺ absorption, which is transient leading to a time dependent adaptation and returning the absorptive process to normal values. The inhibition is accompanied by oxidative stress. When insulin is administered, the duodenal redox state returns to control values and the intestinal Ca²⁺ absorption normalizes.

Effect of metabolic control on parathyroid hormone secretion in diabetic patients

The metabolic derangement caused by diabetes mellitus may potentially affect bone mineral metabolism. In the present study we evaluated the effect of diabetes metabolic control on parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion during stimulation with EDTA infusion. The study was conducted on 24 individuals, 8 of them normal subjects (group N: glycated hemoglobin - HbA1C = 4.2 +/- 0.2%; range = 3.5-5.0%), 8 patients with good and regular metabolic control (group G-R: HbA1C = 7.3 +/- 0.4%; range = 6.0-8.5%), and 8 patients with poor metabolic control (group P: HbA1C = 12.5 +/- 1.0%; range: 10.0-18.8%). Blood samples were collected at 10-min intervals throughout the study (a basal period of 30 min and a 2-h period of EDTA infusion, 30 mg/kg body weight) and used for the determination of ionized calcium, magnesium, glucose and intact PTH. Basal ionized calcium levels were slightly lower in group P (1.19 +/- 0.01 mmol/l) than in group N (1.21 +/- 0.01 mmol/l) and group G-R (1.22 +/- 0.01 mmol/l). After EDTA infusion, the three groups presented a significant fall in calcium, but with no significant difference among them at any time. Basal magnesium levels and levels determined during EDTA infusion were significantly lower (P<0.01) in group P than in group N. The induction of hypocalcemia caused an elevation in PTH which was similar in groups N and G-R but significantly higher than in group P throughout the infusion period (+110 min, N = 11.9 +/- 2.1 vs G-R = 13.7 +/- 1.6 vs P = 7.5 +/- 0.7 pmol/l; P<0.05 for P vs N and G-R). The present results show that PTH secretion is impaired in patients with poorly controlled diabetes.

Gastric acidity, atrophic gastritis, and calcium absorption

The deleterious effects of increased gastric pH on calcium absorption from calcium carbonate supplements were observed about 25 years ago. Increasing use of calcium supplements, especially by the elderly, has raised questions about bioavailability from various calcium sources. Decreased gastric acidity is common in the elderly and in patients taking antiulcer medications. A critical review of the available human studies that have investigated the role of gastric acidity in calcium bioavailability suggests that the effects of increased gastric pH are only apparent when poorly soluble calcium salts are taken after an overnight fast. Soluble calcium sources, such as calcium citrate and calcium from milk, are absorbed normally in elderly subjects with atrophic gastritis. Moreover, calcium carbonate, a relatively insoluble calcium salt, is well absorbed in atrophic gastritis patients if administered with a meal. In order to maximize calcium bioavailability, elderly subjects should increase their calcium intakes to at least recommended levels, preferably by increasing milk consumption. When calcium supplements are used to augment dietary calcium sources, a highly soluble source should be of benefit or calcium carbonate may be taken with a meal.

Long-term bone loss in insulin-dependent diabetic patients with microvascular complications

Insulin-dependent diabetic patients have an approximately 10% decreased bone mineral content (BMC) when they are studied a few years after clinical onset of diabetes. After that time, patients without diabetic microvascular complications have no, or only very little, further bone loss. The aim of the present study was to investigate if any substantial long-term bone loss occurs in diabetic patients with microvascular complications. We studied 19 insulin-dependent diabetic patients with neither physiologic nor pathologic conditions known to interfere with bone metabolism, other than diabetes. BMC was determined twice, with an interval of 11 years. At initial examination, no patient had diabetic microangiopathy, but at final examination 7 patients had developed diabetic microvascular complications while 12 patients had not. As compared with gender- and age-matched controls, both subgroups had significantly decreased BMC at the initial examination. During the study period, the patients with complications showed further bone loss, whereas the subgroup without complications had unchanged decreased BMC. At final examination, BMC was significantly lower in patients with microvascular complications than in patients without them. The biochemistry of bone metabolism showed a significantly increased fasting urinary excretion of calcium and hydroxyproline in patients with complications, but not in the group without complications, and there was a negative correlation between plasma BGP (osteocalcin) and hemoglobin A1C for all patients. These findings indicate that, in addition to a decreased BMC (before or shortly after clinical onset of diabetes), patients who develop microvascular complications also develop ongoing bone loss. This loss may be caused by an increased bone resorption, but decreased bone formation during periods of poor diabetic control may be involved as well.

Calcium homeostasis in chronic streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus in the rat

Calcium homeostasis was studied in freely fed control, streptozotocin diabetic, long-term and short-term insulin-treated diabetic rats 7 wk after the induction of diabetes. In contrast to the short-term (5-12 day) diabetic rat model, intestinal absorption of calcium was markedly enhanced in chronically insulin-deficient animals. Moreover, conventional balance studies showed that these animals were in positive calcium balance despite severe hypercalciuria. Intestinal hyperabsorption of calcium in long-standing diabetic rats occurred despite low levels of circulating 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and hypercorticosteronism and was attended by hypercalcemia and suppression of both plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH) and urinary cyclic 3',5'-AMP (cAMP). Long-term insulin replacement completely normalized the intestinal hyperabsorption of calcium, corrected the plasma calcium, and significantly increased circulating PTH and urinary cAMP excretion. Insulin therapy also corrected the decreased plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D observed in untreated diabetic animals. Intestinal hyperabsorption of calcium appeared to be only partially corrected by short-term insulin therapy. The accumulated results reveal decided differences in calcium homeostasis and hormonal response between the rats with long-standing diabetes and those with diabetes of short duration.

Development of bone mineral loss in insulin-treated diabetes: a 1 1/2 years follow-up study in sixty patients

The change in bone mass during 1 1/2 years was determined in a longitudinal study of sixty adult insulin-treated diabetic out-patients. During the study period the mean bone mass decreased by 1.30 +/- 0.28 (SEM)% (P less than 0.001), to a mean value of 91.0 +/- 1.7% of normal (P less than 0.001). The rate of bone loss was significantly higher in patients with 1-6 years of diabetes (n = 29, bone loss: 1.96 +/- 0.32%/1 1/2 years) than in patients with longer duration of the disease (n = 31, bone loss: 0.61 +/- 0.44%/1 1/2 years, P less than 0.02). The endogenous insulin secretion estimated with the glucagon-stimulated serum C-peptide concentration decreased during the observation period in 58.6% of the patients with 1-6 years of diabetes compared to 16.1% among patients with 7-11 years of diabetes (P less than 0.002). The rate of bone mineral loss was almost 3 times higher in the twenty-two patients in whom endogenous insulin secretion had deteriorated (2.12 +/- 0.30%/1 1/2 years) than in the thirty-eight patients without as well as with unchanged or increased insulin secretion (0.78 +/- 0.39%/1 1/2 years, P less than 0.01). In twenty patients with an increased insulin dose during the study period the mean bone mineral loss was 2.05 +/- 0.36%/1 1/2 years compared to a mean bone mineral loss of 0.91 +/- 0.38%/1 1/2 years in the forty patients with unchanged or decreased insulin dosage (P less than 0.05). This longitudinal study further supports the hypothesis that the bone mineral loss in insulin-treated diabetic patients begins with the onset of clinical diabetes and that its development is associated with the deterioration of the beta-cell function and with the increment in insulin dosage. The rate of bone mineral loss is high during the first few years of clinical diabetes, but levels off with increasing duration of the disease.

Influence of experimental diabetes and insulin on matrix-induced cartilage and bone differentiation

The influence of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on discrete stages of matrix-induced endochondral bone formation has been investigated. Mesenchymal cell proliferation was inhibited in diabetic rats as evidenced by a 65% reduction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and a 56% reduction of [3H]thymidine incorporation per microgram DNA compared to nondiabetic controls; the inhibition was prevented by insulin treatment. In diabetic animals, chondrogenesis on day 7 was reduced by 49% compared to control animals as assessed by 35SO4 incorporation. Exogenous insulin was stimulatory to cartilage development when present during days 0 through 4 (mesenchymal cell proliferation). Calcification of cartilage and osteogenesis were reduced by more than 50% in diabetic rats and corrected by insulin as measured by alkaline phosphatase activity and 45Ca incorporation. Decreased in vivo endochondral bone growth and development during diabetes is the result of 1) inhibition of insulin-dependent mesenchymal cell proliferation, 2) decreased and delayed cartilage formation due to impaired mesenchymal cell proliferation, 3) decreased and delayed vascular invasion prior to chondrolysis and osteogenesis, and 4) reduced insulin-dependent calcification and ossification.