Glycated albumin and glycated hemoglobin levels in normal pregnancy

Glycated albumin levels showed a progressive increase during normal pregnancy. The mean values (mole hexose/mole protein) were 1.68 +/- 0.27 (n = 15) in nonpregnant women, 1.83 +/- 0.21 (n = 11) in first trimester, 2.00 +/- 0.41 (n = 13) in second trimester, and 2.42 +/- 0.49 (n = 15) in third trimester. Glycated hemoglobin levels indicated a biphase pattern with low values at midpregnancy (controls 0.29 +/- 0.05, first trimester 0.30 +/- 0.04, second trimester 0.27 +/- 0.05, and third trimester 0.33 +/- 0.04). The data suggest that glycated albumin reflects the decreased glucose tolerance in pregnancy better that glycated hemoglobin levels. The reasons for the differing pattern of the two glycated proteins are discussed.