Analysis of advanced glycation end products in the DHS Mind Study

Human studies of links between advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and disease phenotypes are less common than studies of animal and cell models. Here, we examined the association of total AGEs with diabetes risk factors in a predominately type 2 diabetes (T2D) affected cohort.

AGEs were measured using an enzyme linked immunosorbant assay in 816 individuals from the DHS Mind Study (n=709 T2D affected), and association analyses were completed.

Total AGEs were associated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (p=0.0054; β=-0.1291) and coronary artery calcification (p=0.0352; β=1.1489) in the entire cohort. No significant associations were observed when individuals with T2D were analyzed separately. In individuals without T2D, increased circulating AGEs were associated with increased BMI (p=0.02, β=0.138), low density lipoproteins (p=0.046, β=17.07) and triglycerides (p=0.0004, β=0.125), and decreased carotid artery calcification (p=0.0004, β=-1.2632) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (p=0.0018, β=-0.1405). Strong trends were also observed for an association between AGEs and poorer cognitive performance on the digit symbol substitution test (p=0.046, β=-6.64) and decreased grey matter volume (p=0.037, β=-14.87).

AGEs may play an important role in a number of phenotypes and diseases, although not necessarily in interindividual variation in people with T2D. Further evaluation of specific AGE molecules may shed more light on these relationships.