Metabolic and Cardiovascular Ageing Indices in Relation to Glycated Haemoglobin in Healthy and Diabetic Subjects
Shruthi Suvarna H I1, Shailaja Moodithaya2, Raghava Sharma3
1Department of Physiology, A J Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Kuntikana, Mangalore, Karnataka - 575004, India.
Insights
Glycemic control significantly impacts biological aging. Higher Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels correlate with accelerated metabolic and cardiovascular aging, even in non-diabetic individuals, highlighting the importance of managing blood sugar for healthy aging.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Aging is a natural process impacting physiological functions.
- Diabetes and aging share symptoms like tissue stiffness due to protein cross-linking and free radicals.
- Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) increases with age, even in non-diabetics, indicating a link between glycemic control and aging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between HbA1c and metabolic/cardiovascular aging indices.
- To assess this relationship in adults aged 40-60 years.
Main Methods:
- 220 subjects (110 diabetic, 110 non-diabetic) were assessed.
- Metabolic indices: BMI, waist-hip ratio, fat percentage, fasting blood sugar, HbA1c.
- Cardiovascular indices: resting heart rate, blood pressure, heart rate variability.
Main Results:
- Diabetic subjects showed significantly accelerated aging compared to controls.
- HbA1c levels showed a statistically significant association with cardiovascular and metabolic aging indices.
- This association remained significant after controlling for chronological age.
Conclusions:
- Glycemic control tightness significantly influences the biological aging process.
- Managing blood sugar is crucial for mitigating age-related physiological decline.
Background:
Ageing is a natural phenomenon that has tremendous amount of control over normal physiological functions. Diabetes mellitus and ageing share common symptoms like stiffness and loss of functioning of tissues due to cross-liked proteins and free radicals. Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) is often used as a stable cumulative index of glycemic control and has shown that even in non-diabetic adults, there is a steady increase in HbA1c levels with age. Aim of the study is to evaluate the strength of association of HbA1c with metabolic and cardiovascular ageing indices in subjects between the age group of 40 to 60 yrs.
Method:
A total of 220 subjects, with (n=110) and without (n=110) diabetes were assessed for the metabolic and cardiovascular ageing indices. BMI, waist hip ratio, fat percentage, Fasting blood sugar and HbA1c were assessed as metabolic ageing indices. The cardiovascular ageing indices measured were resting heart rate, blood pressure and heart rate variability.
Results:
Ageing indices were compared between subjects with and without diabetes using independent' t' test and showed that the T2DM group exhibit significant accelerated ageing as compared to that of the controls. Pearson's and partial correlation coefficient was used to assess the association of HbA1c with the ageing indices without and with controlling for chronological age, indicated that, strength of association of levels of HBA1c with cardiovascular and other metabolic indices of ageing is statistically significant.
Conclusion:
The study concludes that the tightness of glycemic control has a significant impact on the biological ageing process.
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