Higher Serum Osteocalcin Is Associated With Lower Abdominal Aortic Calcification Progression and Longer 10-Year Survival in Elderly Men of the MINOS Cohort

Context: Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is an indicator of cardiovascular risk, especially in the diseases characterized by insulin resistance such as type 2 diabetes. Osteocalcin is a bone-secreted hormone that favors insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion. Objectives: We investigated whether total serum osteocalcin level at baseline is associated with AAC progression and 10-year all-cause mortality in elderly men. Design and Participants: We assessed 774 men aged 51–85 years from the MINOS cohort who had osteocalcin measurement and lumbar spine radiographs at baseline. They were followed-up prospectively for 10 years. Among them, 615 patients had a follow-up radiograph at 3.5 or 7 years. Main Outcome Measures: Serum total osteocalcin was measured with an immunoradiometric assay on morning fasting serum collected at baseline. Kauppila's AAC score was assessed from lumbar spine radiographs. AAC progression rate was calculated as the difference between AAC on the last available radiograph and AAC ...