CARBOHYDRATE-DEFICIENT TRANSFERRIN IS ASSOCIATED WITH INSULIN SENSITIVITY IN HYPERTENSIVE MEN

An elevated concentration of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin in ser um (CDT) has been reported to indicate excessive ethanol consumption. However, in hypertensive men, we found low values for diagnostic sensi tivity and specificity. Furthermore, in the individuals with high CDT values, the concentrations of serum triglycerides and blood glucose we re low rather than high, indicating that factors related to insulin/gl ucose metabolism may be operative. The current study addresses this is sue by examining 48 patients with treated hypertension and at least 1 of following: hypercholesterolemia, history of smoking, and diabetes m ellitus. We determined serum CDT, fasting plasma insulin, and glucose disposal rate during hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp. Seven patients had elevated CDT concentrations. This group of patients had higher gl ucose disposal rates than the others (mean difference, 19 mu mol/min.k g lean body mass; 95% confidence interval, 5-33 mu mol/min.kg lean bod y mass; P = 0.0096), but did not differ in body mass index or alcohol intake. Serum CDT correlated positively with glucose disposal rate (r = 0.55; P = 0.0004) and negatively with fasting plasma insulin (r = -0 .43; P = 0.0039). These relationships remained after exclusion of 8 pa tients with diabetes mellitus and adjustment for potentially confoundi ng factors. We conclude that the serum CDT concentrations in our patie nts were associated with insulin sensitivity.