OPG was associated with a higher risk for IGR (OR 1.108 for each 0.1 μg/l increase in OPG, 95 % CI 1.009–1.117, p = 0.01) after adjustment for gender, age, BMI, current smoking and alcohol intake, family history of diabetes, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), lipid profile; the corresponding OR of combined impaired glucose regulation and type 2 diabetes was 1.121 (95 % CI 1.101–1.141, p = 0.0005). This evidence concerns the gene TNFRSF11B and diabetes mellitus.