Ethnic differences in glycated haemoglobin between white subjects and those of South Asian origin with normal glucose tolerance.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether ethnic differences exist in glycated haemoglobin between white subjects and those of South Asian origin with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) METHODS: Erythrocyte glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)) was compared between white subjects and those of South Asian origin with NGT defined by a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).


RESULTS
139 subjects with NGT comprising 36 people of South Asian origin (20 female) and 103 white subjects (49 female) were compared. Subjects of South Asian origin were younger (p<0.001) and weighed less (p<0.001) than white subjects. Fasting and 2 h capillary plasma glucose concentrations were similar in subjects of South Asian origin and white subjects, but HbA(1c) levels were higher (p<0.05) in subjects of South Asian origin (6.11+/-0.58%) compared with levels in white subjects (5.90+/-0.40%).


CONCLUSIONS
In subjects with similar fasting and postprandial glycaemia on OGTT, those of South Asian origin have higher HbA(1c) levels than white subjects. It is speculated that the higher glycaemia-independent HBA(1c) levels in people of South Asian origin could possibly contribute to their increase cardiovascular risk.
Likhari
Taruna
T
Department of Clinical Chemistry, New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV10 0QP, UK. t.likhari@btinternet.com
Gama
Rousseau
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin