Elevated one-hour post-load plasma glucose levels identifies subjects with normal glucose tolerance but early carotid atherosclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether individuals with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), whose 1-h post-load plasma glucose is >or=155 mg/dl, or with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) have an increased carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), as compared with NGT individuals with 1-h post-load plasma <155 mg/dl.


METHODS
Atherosclerosis risk factors, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and ultrasound manual measurement of IMT were analyzed in 400 non-diabetic Caucasians.


RESULTS
As compared with individuals with a 1-h post-load plasma glucose <155 mg/dl, NGT individuals with a 1-h post-load plasma glucose >or=155 mg/dl exhibited higher hsCRP (2.0+/-1.5 vs. 1.5+/-1.0, P=0.008), and IMT (0.82+/-0.20 vs. 0.71+/-0.16; P=0.006), and lower insulin sensitivity (71+/-39 vs. 105+/-57; P<0.0001), and IGF-1 levels (214+/-88 vs. 176+/-49; P<0.03). No significant differences were observed in metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors between IGT and NGT subjects with a 1-h post-load glucose >or=155 mg/dl. Of the three glycemic parameters, 1-h and 2-h post-load glucose, but not fasting glucose, were significantly correlated with IMT. In a stepwise multivariate regression analysis in a model including age, gender, and a variety of atherosclerosis risk factors, the three variables that remained significantly associated with IMT were age (P<0.0001), BMI (P<0.0001), and 1-h post-load glucose (P=0.02) accounting for 20.2% of its variation.


CONCLUSIONS
NGT subjects with a 1-h post-load glucose >or=155 mg/dl have an atherogenic profile similar to IGT individuals. These data suggest that a cutoff point of 155 mg/dl for the 1-h post-load glucose during OGTT may be helpful in the identification of NGT subjects at increased risk for cardiovascular disease.
Succurro
E
E
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna-Graecia of Catanzaro, Italy.
Marini
M A
MA
Arturi
F
F
Grembiale
A
A
Lugarà
M
M
Andreozzi
F
F
Sciacqua
A
A
Lauro
R
R
Hribal
M L
ML
Perticone
F
F
Sesti
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography; D015854:Up-Regulation; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein