EFFECT OF AGING ON PLASMA 1,5-ANHYDROGLUCITOL LEVELS IN HUMANS AND RATS

Since normal reference values change with age in some clinical paramet ers, we measured the plasma levels of 1,5-anhydroglucitol (AG), a new marker of glycemic control in diabetes mellitus, in healthy subjects a nd in rats. Our results showed a significantly negative correlation of the marker with age in humans and that the plasma AG levels of older rats were markedly lower than those of younger counterparts. This rema rkable reduction of AG in the older rat group can be partially explain ed by our finding that aged animals excreted AG more rapidly in the ur ine than younger ones, besides a decrease in food intake. We therefore suggest that normal clinical reference values for plasma AG levels sh ould be modified according to age.