Increasing waist circumference is associated with decreased levels of glycated albumin

Background: Glycated albumin (GA) levels are affected by body fat and its distribution, We explored the association of waist circumference (WC) with GA and to assess the extent to which WC influences GA. Methods: We recruited 1799 subjects (age 26-82 y) from communities. GA was determined using the enzyme method, and glycated hemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)) was detected using high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: Subjects with central obesity had lower GA and GA/HbA(1c), than those without (both P < .01). GA and GA/HbA(1c) were negatively correlated with central obesity (both P < .01), whereas HbA(1c) was not correlated (P = .833). In the euglycemic and hyperglycemic subpopulations, GA and GA/HbA(1c) showed decreasing trends as WC levels increased (both P for trends < 0.01). WC was a significant negative determinant of GA (P < .05). In the hyperglycemic subpopulation, the GA value decreased by approximately 0.15% for each 5 cm increment in WC regardless of the presence of central obesity. Conclusions: The GA value was reduced by approximately 0.15% for each 5 cm increment in WC, suggesting that more attention should be paid to actual blood glucose underestimated by GA in obese people.