Increased serum levels of methylglyoxal-derived hydroimidazolone-AGE are associated with increased cardiovascular disease mortality in nondiabetic women

ObjectiveTo investigate the association of the levels of methylglyoxal-derived hydroimidazolone AGE modified proteins (MG-H1-AGE) with cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in an 18-year follow-up study in Finnish nondiabetic and diabetic subjects.MethodsThe study design was a nested case-control study. Serum MG-H1-AGE levels in samples drawn at baseline were measured with a DELFIA type immunoassay in 220 diabetic subjects and 61 nondiabetic subjects who died from CVD during the follow-up, and age- and gender-matched 157 diabetic subjects and 159 nondiabetic subjects who did not die from CVD.ResultsIn type 2 diabetic subjects serum MG-H1-AGE levels were similar in subjects who died from CVD and in subjects who did not, 32.6 (24.6–42.1) (median (interquartile range)) vs. 31.3 (22.5–40.7) U/mL (p = 0.281). In nondiabetic subjects serum MG-H1 levels were significantly higher in subjects who died from CVD than in subjects who were alive, 35.4 (28.1–44.7) vs. 31.3 (24.2–38.6) U/mL (p = 0.025). Corresponding MG-H1 levels were 41.2 (35.6–58.7) vs. 31.1 (26.7–35.7) U/mL, p = 0.003, in women, and 34.4 (26.3–41.2) vs. 32.0 (22.8–40.3) U/mL, p = 0.270, in men. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a significant association of serum levels of MG-H1-AGE with CVD mortality in nondiabetic women (adjusted p = 0.021), but not in nondiabetic men.ConclusionsOur 18-year follow-up study shows that high baseline serum levels of MG-H1 type of AGE modified proteins were associated with CVD mortality in nondiabetic women, but not in nondiabetic men or in diabetic subjects.