title: Racial differences in glycemic markers: a cross-sectional analysis of community-based data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although differences between black and white persons in hemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)) values are well established, recent studies suggest that this might not reflect differences in glycemia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate racial disparities in glycemic markers, including those that reflect biological processes independent of hemoglobin glycation and erythrocyte turnover.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-based.
  
  
  METHODS
  1376 nondiabetic and 343 diabetic adults in a substudy of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hemoglobin A(1c), fasting glucose, glycated albumin, fructosamine, and 1,5-anhydroglucitol levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among persons with and without diabetes, black persons had significantly higher HbA(1c), glycated albumin, and fructosamine levels than white persons before and after adjustment for covariates and fasting glucose concentration. Serum 1,5-anhydroglucitol levels, which are reduced in the setting of hyperglycemia-induced glycosuria, were lower in black persons than in white persons, although this difference was statistically significant only in nondiabetic adults.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The design was cross-sectional, a limited number of participants with a history of diabetes was included, and the study did not include integrated measures of circulating nonfasting glycemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences between black and white persons in glycated albumin, fructosamine, and 1,5-anhydroglucitol levels parallel differences between these groups in HbA(1c) values. Racial differences in hemoglobin glycation and erythrocyte turnover cannot explain racial disparities in these serum markers. The possibility that black persons have systematically higher levels of nonfasting glycemia warrants further study.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. lselvin@jhsph.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Selvin
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Steffes
authors.forename: Christie M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ballantyne
authors.forename: Ron C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Hoogeveen
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coresh
authors.forename: Frederick L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Brancati
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003847:Deoxyglucose / Q000097:blood*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019270:Fructosamine / Q000097:blood*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D003847:Deoxyglucose; D019270:Fructosamine; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C006584:1,5-anhydroglucitol