Plasma glycated albumin level and atherosclerosis: Results from the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS)

• Published in: International journal of cardiology Vol. 167; no. 5; pp. 2066 - 2072
• Main Authors: Furusyo, Norihiro, Koga, Tsunehisa, Ai, Masumi, Otokozawa, Seiko, Kohzuma, Takuji, Ikezaki, Hiroaki, Schaefer, Ernst J, Hayashi, Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.09.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Atherosclerosis - blood; Atherosclerosis - diagnosis; Atherosclerosis - ethnology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Blood and lymphatic vessels; C-reactive protein; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness - adverse effects; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Glycated albumin; Glycosylation; Heart; Humans; Intima-media thickness; Japan - ethnology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Obesity - blood; Obesity - diagnosis; Obesity - ethnology; Population Surveillance - methods; Risk Factors; Serum Albumin - metabolism; Asia; Kyushu; Japan; Intima-media thickness; Glycated albumin; C-reactive protein; Human; Biological fluid; Albumin; Cardiovascular disease; Blood plasma; Result; Vascular disease; Thickness; Acute phase protein; Atherosclerosis; Population; Level; Cardiology; Vascular wall; C reactive protein
• ISSN: 0167-5273; 1874-1754
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2012.05.045

Abstract Background Glycated albumin (GA) is a measure of the mean plasma glucose concentration over approximately 2–3 weeks. This study was done to test the hypothesis that GA can serve as a marker for atherosclerosis, similar to glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Methods HbA1c, plasma GA and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were measured for 1575 residents (age range 26–78 years) of a suburban town in Japan. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured by ultrasound for each participant. Results GA levels had significantly positive correlation coefficients with HbA1c level, hs-CRP level, and max-IMT (all P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated a GA level of ≥ 15.5% to be optimal for predicting diabetes. A GA level of 15.5% corresponded to an HbA1c level of 5.8%. The hs-CRP and max-IMT values of participants with GA ≥ 15.5% were significantly higher than the values of those with GA < 15.5% (median hs-CRP: 2.4 vs. 2.3 mg/L, P = 0.048; mean max-IMT 0.852 vs. 0.759 mm, P = 0.003, respectively). Among obese participants, the hs-CRP and max-IMT values of those with GA ≥ 15.5% (7.5 mg/L and 1.014 mm) were significantly higher than the values of those with GA < 15.5% (4.7 mg/dL and 0.823 mm) (P = 0.024 and P = 0.001, respectively). Conclusions Increased IMT and hs-CRP levels were associated with a high GA level, especially for obese participants, suggesting that GA would be as a useful biomarker for assessing the risk of atherosclerosis.