Establishing a blood fructosamine reference range for the Brazilian population based on data from ELSA - Brasil.

OBJECTIVES

The fructosamine test is used in the monitoring of diabetes mellitus, particularly in cases with restrictions on the use of glycated hemoglobin (mainly in the setting of altered red blood cell lifespan and interference by hemoglobin variants). It could also provide additional information on shorter-term glycemic control. The objective of the study is to establish the reference range of the fructosamine in the Brazilian population.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The reference interval was defined as suggested by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). The study participants were from a Brazilian cohort (The Longitudinal Study of Adult Health - ELSA-Brasil) with baseline data collected between 2008 and 2010. A total of 466 subjects were selected after exclusion of diabetic individuals, and those with altered glycemic markers and renal function tests.

RESULTS

The reference interval was 186-248 μmol/L for women and 196-269 μmol/L for men. Fructosamine levels were higher in men than in women (p = 0.006) and in the non-white population (p = 0.034) and had a negative correlation with the body mass index (r = -0.117; p = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONS

The reference intervals for fructosamine were affected by sex. Reference intervals stratified by sex would be more adequate in the interpretation of the fructosamine test.