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. 2022 Oct 20;15(2):253-258.
doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1757589. eCollection 2023 Jun.

Effect of Iron Deficiency Anemia on Glycated Albumin Levels: A Comparative Study in Nondiabetic Subjects with Iron Deficiency Anemia

Pralayakaveri Jyothsna  1 , Musturu M Suchitra  1 , Medooru Kusuma Kumari  1 , C Chandrasekhar  2 , Nandyala Rukmangadha  3 , Sachan Alok  4 , Bhattaram Siddhartha Kumar  5
Affiliations

Effect of Iron Deficiency Anemia on Glycated Albumin Levels: A Comparative Study in Nondiabetic Subjects with Iron Deficiency Anemia

Pralayakaveri Jyothsna et al. J Lab Physicians. .

Abstract

Objective Glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), used for monitoring glycemia control, is altered in iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Glycated albumin (GA) is considered an alternate biomarker to HbA1c. However, effect of IDA on GA needs to be studied. Materials and Methods Thirty nondiabetic cases with IDA and 30 healthy controls were included. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), creatinine, urea, albumin, total protein, ferritin, iron, unsaturated iron binding capacity, hemoglobin (Hb), HbA1c, complete hemogram, and GA were estimated. Transferrin saturation and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) were calculated. Statistical analysis was done using unpaired two-tailed t -test/Mann-Whitney U -test and Pearson's correlation/Spearman-rank correlation, as appropriate. Results Total protein, albumin, Hb, iron, ferritin, and transferrin saturation were significantly lower while FPG, GA, TIBC, and HbA1c were significantly higher in cases compared to controls. HbA1C and GA have a significant negative correlation with iron, transferrin saturation, and ferritin. Significant negative correlations of GA with albumin ( r = -0.754; p < 0.001) and Hb ( r = -0.435; p = 0.001) and that of HbA1c with albumin ( r = -0.271; p = 0.03) and Hb ( r = -0.629; p < 0.001) while significant positive correlation of Hb with albumin ( r = 0.395; p = 0.002) and HbA1c with FPG ( r = 0.415; p = 0.001) were observed. Conclusion Low albumin levels increase plasma protein glycation, including albumin. Hence, elevated GA levels indicate false elevation of GA in scenario of lowered albumin observed in IDA, similar to HbA1c. Thus, using GA in diabetes mellitus with IDA should be avoided or used with caution to prevent potentially inappropriate treatment intensification and risk of hypoglycemia.

Keywords: HbA1c; albumin; glycated albumin; hemoglobin; iron deficiency anemia.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest None declared.

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