Relationship between serum omentin-1 level and bone mineral density in girls with anorexia nervosa

Background: Adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) have low bone mineral density (BMD). Omentin-1, the main circulating adipocytokine, plays an important role in bone metabolism in healthy individuals. However, their association with bone metabolism in AN is unknown. Methods: Serum omentin-1, bone turnover biochemical markers, and BMD were determined in 26 girls with AN and 24 healthy girls (15–18 years old). Results: Omentin-1 levels increased in AN subjects, and the differences became greater after controlling for fat mass. Omentin-1 was negatively correlated with BMD. In the multiple linear stepwise regression analysis, omentin-1, body mass index and lean mass, but not fat mass, were independent predictors of BMD for the combined group. Significant negative correlations were found between omentin-1 and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, bone cross-linked N-telopeptides of type I collagen. Omentin-1 was also independently associated with BMD and bone turnover markers in the AN and control groups considered separately. Conclusions: Omentin-1 was an independent predictor of BMD in adolescents with AN, and negatively correlated with bone turnover markers. This suggested that omentin-1 may exert a negative effect on bone mass by inhibiting bone formation in girls with AN.