Background: The process of protein glycation described by Brownlee et al. is a crucial pathogenic mechanism in the development of chronic complications of diabetes.
Objectives: To assess advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the skin of patients with type 1 diabetes (DM1) and excess body fat (EBF) accumulation.
Material and methods: The study group consisted of 227 DM1 patients (121 women and 106 men) whose mean age was 31 ±9.2 years; the mean duration of diabetes was 12 ±7.7 years; and the mean HbA1c was 8.9 ±1.8%. The inclusion criteria were as follows: age 18-65 years, DM1, and lack of acute inflammations and uncontrolled chronic diseases. The exclusion criteria were: anemia (hemoglobin (Hb) <11 g/dL), chronic kidney disease (CKD) (glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <30 mL/min/1.73 m2) and elevated aminotransferase levels (more than twice the upper normal limits). Total adipose tissue content was assessed using the electrical bioimpedance method, with the Tanita BC-418 MA analyzer (Tanita Corp., Tokyo, Japan). The Tanita ViScan AB 140 (Tanita Corp.) was used to evaluate visceral fat tissue (VTF). The content of glycation end products in the skin was assessed using a DiagnOptics AGE Reader device (type 214D00102; DiagnOptics, Groningen, the Netherlands).
Results: The group with normal body fat (NBF) consisted of 123 subjects, whereas 104 subjects had EBF. No significant statistical differences were found between the NBF and EBF groups with regard to age, duration of diabetes, current HbA1C value, and tobacco use. A significantly higher AGE score was observed in the EBF group.
Conclusions: Increased body fat affects the amount of AGE in the skin, which correlates with a higher risk of developing chronic diabetes complications.
Keywords: advanced glycation end products; excess body fat; type 1 diabetes.