Associations of glycated albumin and fructosamine with glycaemic status in urban black South Africans

Abstract Background The associations of glycated albumin (GA) and fructosamine (FA) as alternate tests for diabetes screening in South Africans were examined to overcome shortcomings with oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs). Methods Based on OGTTs, glycaemic status included 1) normal glucose, 2) dysglycaemia (impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, newly diagnosed diabetes), and 3) known diabetes. Results Among 1092 participants, >21 years, mean GA (16.9%) and FA (230.2 μmol/l) increased significantly by age and worsening glycaemic status and were significantly higher in women vs. men and BMI (kg/m2) ≥ 30 vs.  Conclusions Potential exists for GA and/or FA as alternative measures of dysglycaemia in clinical practice in Africans, but longitudinal studies are required to clearly elucidate their utility.