Postchallenge glucose rises with increasing age even when glucose tolerance is normal.
OBJECTIVE
Ageing increases the likelihood of developing diabetes, with associated cardiovascular disease. In a cross-sectional study, we sought to determine whether age is associated with an increase in glucose concentrations 1 h after an oral glucose challenge (1-h OGTT), even when glucose tolerance is normal (NGT).


METHODS
Among subjects in the NHANES II database, 2591 subjects with NGT and documented 1-h OGTT glucose concentrations were studied. The relationship between age and 1-h OGTT glucose concentrations was assessed in a multivariable linear regression analysis.


RESULTS
In a multivariable linear regression analysis, each 10-year increase in age conferred an additional 0.20 mmol/l increase in the 1-h OGTT glucose (P < 0.0001). Moreover, an interaction between age and gender was found such that 1-h OGTT glucose concentrations rose more rapidly with increasing age in men than in women. The impact of age on 1-h OGTT glucose was independent of both fasting and 2-h OGTT glucose concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
One-hour OGTT glucose concentrations rise significantly with age even in subjects with NGT. Further investigation is warranted to explore the pathophysiological significance of such age-related impairment of glucose handling, which might increase the risk of cardiovascular disease even when patients do not meet criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes.
Rhee
M K
MK
Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipids, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. mrhee@emory.edu
Ziemer
D C
DC
Kolm
P
P
Phillips
L S
LS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose