Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Glycemic Impact on Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms on Physical, Radiographic, and Inflammatory Markers among Individuals Aged 50 and Over with Diabetes
07:22

Glycemic Impact on Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms on Physical, Radiographic, and Inflammatory Markers among Individuals Aged 50 and Over with Diabetes

Published on: March 7, 2025

Glycated albumin is low in obese, non-diabetic children

Rimei Nishimura1, Akira Kanda, Hironari Sano

  • 1Division of Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishishimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan. rimei@jikei.ac.jp

Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
|September 13, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Obese children show higher HbA1c, glucose, and insulin levels but lower glycated albumin (GA). This study is the first to report lower GA in obese, non-diabetic children, necessitating further research.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Health

Background:

  • Assessing glucose control indices in non-diabetic children is crucial for early detection of metabolic alterations.
  • Obesity is a growing concern in pediatric populations, potentially impacting glucose metabolism.
  • Understanding variations in glycated albumin (GA), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), plasma glucose (PG), and immuno-reactive insulin (IRI) is vital.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate glucose control indices (GA, HbA1c, PG, IRI) in non-diabetic children.
  • To compare these indices between obese and non-obese children within a population-based cohort.
  • To investigate potential differences in glucose control markers associated with childhood obesity.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based cohort study was conducted in Ina town, Saitama Prefecture (2002-2003).
  • Glucose control indices including glycated albumin (GA), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), plasma glucose (PG), and immuno-reactive insulin (IRI) were measured.
  • Data from obese children (n=209) were compared with non-obese children (n=1060).

Main Results:

  • Obese children exhibited statistically higher levels of HbA1c, PG, and IRI compared to non-obese children.
  • Conversely, obese children showed statistically lower median and interquartile range (IQR) for glycated albumin (GA) (13.6%: 12.6-14.7) than non-obese children (14.3%: 13.5-15.4).
  • Lower GA in obese children was attributed to lower absolute GA values, not higher albumin levels.

Conclusions:

  • This study is the first to report significantly lower glycated albumin (GA) levels in obese, non-diabetic children.
  • Elevated HbA1c, PG, and IRI in obese children suggest altered glucose metabolism.
  • Further research, including data collection and experimental approaches, is required to elucidate the mechanisms behind reduced GA in this population.

More Related Videos

Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic Clamps in Conscious, Unrestrained Mice11:10

Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic Clamps in Conscious, Unrestrained Mice

Published on: November 16, 2011

Related Concept Videos

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution01:25

Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution

Obesity significantly alters the pharmacokinetic processes of drug absorption and distribution, presenting unique challenges in medical treatment. The increased fat tissue and decreased lean muscle in obese individuals can significantly affect how drugs are absorbed into the body and distributed across different tissues. This alteration can lead to variances in the effectiveness and safety of medications, necessitating adjustments in dosing or drug selection for obese patients.One notable...
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon01:15

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon

Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...
Diabetic Nephropathy01:28

Diabetic Nephropathy

Definition Diabetic nephropathy is a chronic kidney complication that results from prolonged hyperglycemia.Prevalence It is the most common cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide, affecting up to half of individuals with diabetes.Pathophysiology • Sustained hyperglycemia triggers multiple hemodynamic and metabolic changes in the kidney. • Early in the disease, increased renal blood flow and glomerular hyperfiltration occur due to afferent arteriolar...
Hyperglycemia01:29

Hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia is an abnormally high blood glucose level. It is diagnosed by fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL, 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (or OGTT) ≥200 mg/dL, random glucose ≥200 mg/dL with symptoms, or HbA1c ≥6.5%. However, HbA1c results may be unreliable in certain conditions, such as anemia or hemoglobinopathies, and the diagnosis should be confirmed unless classic symptoms are present. Postprandial hyperglycemia is typically considered significant when glucose levels exceed 180 mg/dL two...
Hypoglycemia01:26

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is a blood glucose level below 70 mg/dL. It commonly occurs in individuals using insulin or insulin-secreting drugs, but may also arise in non-diabetic conditions. People with type 1 diabetes are at the highest risk because they depend on exogenous insulin. People with type 2 diabetes are also at risk, especially when treated with insulin or medications such as sulfonylureas, which increase insulin release regardless of blood glucose levels. It develops when insulin levels exceed...