Serum AGEs in black South African patients with type 2 diabetes

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine serum advanced glycation end products (AGEs) levels in black South African patients with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D) and to compare the results with those reported for other ethnic/race groups.Design: Analytical cross-sectional study.Setting and subjects: The study subjects consisted of 138 black South African patients with T2D and 81 non-diabetic patients at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa.Outcome measures: Serum total AGEs (TAGEs), Nɛ-carboxymethyl-lysine (CML), Nɛ-carboxyethyl-lysine (CEL) and fluorescent AGEs (FAGEs).Results: Serum TAGEs, CML and CEL levels but not FAGEs were significantly higher in T2D patients than in non-diabetic patients. Serum TAGEs were lower than those reported for other ethnic/race groups whereas CML and FAGEs were within ranges reported for other ethnic/race groups. Only serum CEL levels were significantly higher in male than in female T2D patients and only serum FAGEs levels were negatively associated with age of the study subjects.Conclusions: With the exception of FAGEs, serum AGEs levels are significantly higher in T2D than in non-diabetic black South Africans patients. Also, serum TAGE levels black South African appear to be lower than those reported for other ethnic/race groups.Keywords: Black South Africans, serum AGEs, type 2 diabete