Correlation between molecular weight of plasma albumin determined with mass spectrometry and glycation indices in factory workers

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To determine the difference in molecular weights of albumin in factory workers caused by non-enzymatic glycation of plasma albumin using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF/MS), and examine the epidemiological validity of this method.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-eight male workers were tested by random sampling. The difference in molecular weights (&Delta;M) between the subjects' albumin and human serum albumin was determined by MALDI TOF/MS. Correlations between &Delta;M vs. fructosamine, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and HbAlc were investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>&Delta;M showed a significant correlation with all of the tested glycation indices (&Delta;M vs. fructosamine r=0.487, p<0.001) (&Delta;M vs. FPG r=0.482, p<0.01) (&Delta;M vs. HbAlc r=0.397, p<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Since a significant correlation between &Delta;M and the glycation indices was found in this investigation, further study with a larger number of subjects is needed for use in clinical applications.</p>