Association of fructosamine to indices of dyslipidemia in older adults with type 2 diabetes

Aims: To evaluate the association of serum fructosamine values to lipid profiles and to other indices of glycemia both at baseline and over time in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods: Forty adults aged 45 or older with T2DM, not taking insulin, and an HbA1c of 6-10% were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial regarding the effects of an 8-week yoga program on glycemia and related cardiovascular disease risk indices in adults with T2DM. Fasting blood was drawn to assess glycemia (HbA1c, glucose, and fructosamine) and dyslipidemia (LDL, HDL, total cholesterol, cholesterol:HDL ratio, LDL:HDL ratio, and triglycerides) pre and post-intervention. Because the relation of fructosamine to other indices of glycemia and to lipid profiles did not differ between treatment groups either at baseline or over time, groups were pooled for analysis. Results: Baseline fructosamine values were significantly correlated with HbA1c (r = 0.77, P < 0.0001), glucose (r = 0.72, P < 0.0001), LDL:HDL ratio (r = 0.46, P = 0.01), cholesterol:HDL ratio (r = 0.55, P = 0.002), and triglycerides (r = 0.39, P = 0.032), but not to other lipid indices at baseline. Change in fructosamine over 8 weeks was significantly correlated with change in HbA1c (r = 0.63, P = 0.0001), glucose (r = 0.39, P = 0.029), cholesterol (r = 0.65, P < 0.0001), LDL (r = 0.55, P = 0.001), LDL:HDL ratio (r = 0.53, P = 0.003), and cholesterol:HDL ratio (r = 0.52, P = 0.002), and was more strongly related to change in lipid values than were other indices of glycemia. Conclusions: Fructosamine was significantly correlated with measures of dyslipidemia and glycemia both at baseline and over time, and may represent a relatively sensitive and low cost index of short to medium term change in both glycemia and certain lipid profiles. However, findings from this small pilot study should be interpreted with caution, and warrant replication in larger prospective studies.