glycated albumin in diabetes

Last edited 03/2021 and last reviewed 08/2022

Glycated albumin

• refers to the formation of ketoamine specifically involving the major circulating protein albumin (3.5 g/dl to 5 g/dl)
  
  
• serum albumin is the most abundant extracellular protein in plasma, accounting for 60-70% of total serum proteins
  
  
• because albumin is the most abundant of the serum proteins, fructosamine is predominantly a measure of glycated albumin
  
  
• the formation of fructosamine and glycated albumin are post-translational modifications that occur to proteins
  
  
• non-immunoglobulin serum proteins have a much lower half-life, approximately 14-21 days
  
  
• measurement of fructosamine or glycated albumin provides information on glucose control within the previous 2-3 weeks
  
  
• glycated albumin is expressed as the ratio of glycated to total albumin

Reference:

• Danese E et al.Advantages and Pitfalls of Fructosamine and Glycated Albumin in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Diabetes.Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology2015, Vol. 9(2) 169-176