Apolipoprotein levels tied to HbA1c

Higher levels of serum apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) and lower levels of apolipoprotein B (ApoB) correlate with lower glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) in adults, a recent China study has found.

The cross-sectional analysis included 1,448 adults (mean age 54,8 years, 864 women) in whom serum marker levels were measured using standard assays. Of the participants, 826 were followed up approximately once after a mean of 3.94 years, and were eligible for longitudinal analysis.

Mean ApoA1 levels were significantly higher in women than men (1.56 vs 1.43 g/L; p<0.001), while the opposite was true for ApoB levels (0.99 vs 1.02 g/L; p=0.032). In turn, the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio was likewise significantly lower in women (0.65 vs 0.77; p<0.001). No between-group difference was reported for HbA1c (p=0.198).

In the cross-sectional analysis, multivariable models found a significant and inverse correlation between ApoA1 and HbA1c, such that HbA1c levels significantly decreased along increasing quartiles of ApoA1 (Q4 vs Q1: 5.673 percent  vs 5.796 percent ; p_trend=0.014). In contrast, ApoB (Q4 vs Q1: 5.805 percent vs 5.589 percent ; p_trend<0.001) and ApoB/ApoA1 ratio (Q4 vs Q1: 5.841 percent  vs 5.582 percent; p_trend<0.001) were directly correlated with HbA1c.

Notably, longitudinal analyses revealed null results, showing that changes in HbA1c level after around 4 years of follow-up were not affected by levels of ApoA1, ApoB, or ApoB/ApoA1 ratio.

“Our cross-sectional findings suggested that higher ApoA1, lower ApoB concentrations and the ApoB/A1 ratio were associated with lower HbA1c level in Chinese adults. More large prospective studies with longer follow-up period are needed to clarify the effect of Apo on HbA1c changes,” the researchers said.