Serum glycated albumin, but not glycated hemoglobin, is low in relation to glycemia in men with hypertriglyceridemia

Aims/Introduction: Serum glycated albumin (GA) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) are influenced by plasma glucose levels, and are used for monitoring chronic glycemic control in diabetic patients. Both glycated proteins are known to be influenced by various factors other than plasma glucose levels. In the present study, we examined the effects of hypertriglyceridemia on them. Materials and Methods: The present study comprised 273 non-diabetic men. They were grouped into men with normotriglyceridemia (serum triglyceride [TG] < 150 mg/dL) and those with hypertriglyceridemia (serum TG 150 mg/dL). Results: Body mass index (BMI) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were significantly higher in the 160 men with hypertriglyceridemia than the 113 men with normotriglyceridemia. In men with hypertriglyceridemia, as compared with those with normotriglyceridemia, fasting plasma glucose, 2-h plasma glucose after 75 g oral glucose tolerance test, and HbA1c were significantly higher. By contrast, serum GA was significantly lower in men with hypertriglyceridemia. BMI-adjusted serum GA was also significantly lower in these men. In a multivariate analysis, serum TG was an inverse explanatory variable for serum GA. Conclusions: Serum GA is low in relation to plasma glucose levels in men with hypertriglyceridemia. This might be caused by increased albumin metabolism associated with hypertriglyceridemic state. (J Diabetes Invest, doi: 10.1111/j.2040-1124.2010.00049.x, 2010)