Diabetes Care, Vol 20, Issue 9 1466-1469, Copyright © 1997 by American Diabetes Association
Effects of glycemic control on plasma 3-deoxyglucosone levels in NIDDM patients
Y Hamada, J Nakamura, H Fujisawa, H Yago, E Nakashima, N Koh and N Hotta
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
OBJECTIVE: To clarify the effects of glycemic control on the level of
3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG), a reactive dicarbonyl compound, in plasma from
diabetic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Fasting plasma samples were
collected from 15 healthy volunteers and 27 patients with NIDDM. Samples
were collected from six poorly controlled patients before and after
improved glycemic control for at least 2 months. Plasma 3-DG was determined
by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as a
2,3-diaminonaphthalene derivative. We observed the relationship of 3-DG
levels with plasma glucose or HbA1c levels and examined changes in 3-DG
levels after glycemic control in the six patients. RESULTS: Plasma 3-DG was
significantly more increased in diabetic patients than in nondiabetic
control subjects (31.8 +/- 11.3 vs. 12.8 +/- 5.2 ng/ml, means +/- SD, P
< 0.001), but there was an approximately threefold difference in 3-DG
levels among diabetic patients. 3-DG levels were well correlated with
plasma glucose (r = 0.56, P < 0.005) and HbA1c levels (r = 0.74, P <
0.001) in diabetic patients. The improvement of hyperglycemia in six
patients resulted in a significant decrease in 3-DG (35.2 +/- 13.2 vs. 21.3
+/- 3.4 ng/ml, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the
plasma glucose level is a predominant determinant of the plasma 3-DG level
in diabetic patients and good glycemic control would be important to reduce
this reactive metabolite.