Children and adolescents living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) frequently experience challenges related to bone health. Studies indicate that young people with T1D often have reduced bone mineral density, alongside changes in bone microarchitecture and lower rates of bone turnover when compared with healthy peers. Together, these factors contribute to an increased lifetime risk of fractures (1). Advanced imaging techniques have also shown that T1D can affect the developing skeleton more broadly, influencing bone strength, size, and shape (2).
What Recent Biomarker Research Reveals
A recent study examined bone mass and circulating bone biomarkers in adolescents with well-controlled, long-duration T1D and compared the results with healthy control subjects (3). Several key biomarkers involved in bone remodelling were assessed, including:
- Receptor activator nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL)*
- Osteoprotegerin (OPG)*
- Sclerostin (SOST)*
- C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX)
* BIOMEDICA’s ELISA Kits were used in this study
Key findings:
The study reported that:
- Type 1 diabetes is associated with an increased risk of fractures
- Long-standing T1D is linked to reduced bone mass and impaired bone microarchitecture
- Adolescents with prolonged T1D showed lower levels of RANKL and CTX, consistent with reduced bone resorption
- Ongoing monitoring of bone health is recommended for young people with long-term T1D
Bone Biomarker ELISA Kits for Diabetes and Bone Research
BIOMEDICA’s ELISA kits were used as part of the studies referenced above.
Oxford BioSystems is the official distributor of BIOMEDICA ELISA kits to clinical and research laboratories across the UK and Ireland, supporting research in endocrinology, metabolic disease and bone health.
“At BIOMEDICA, we develop and manufacture high-quality, internationally recognized ELISA kits. These kits are used in clinical research focusing on cardiorenal, bone, and mineral disorders. They are trusted by leading scientific institutions, CROs, and pharmaceutical laboratories around the world.” Gabriela Berg, PhD, Scientific Affairs, Biomedica Immunoassays
Why laboratories use BIOMEDICA ELISA kits
- Widely cited in peer-reviewed clinical studies
- Validated according to international guidelines
- High specificity, enabling reliable biomarker measurement in healthy individuals
Contact Oxford BioSystems to discuss BIOMEDICA ELISA kits for bone biomarker research.
References
- Levran N, Shalev-Goldman E, Levy-Shraga Y. Bone Health in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: Optimizing Bone Accrual and Preventing Fractures. Nutrients. 2025;17(15):2400.
- Weber DR. Bone accrual in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: current knowledge and future directions. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2021;28(4):340–347.
- Swolin-Eide D et al. Adolescents with long-duration type 1 diabetes have low bone mass and reduced levels of bone indices reflecting altered bone resorption. Bone. 2025;199:117560.
This article is an original Oxford BioSystems adaptation, informed by published communications from Biomedica, reproduced with permission.