Elevated fasting serum xylitol levels are associated with a lower risk of incident type 2 diabetes among individuals with prediabetes in the Chinese population.

BACKGROUND

It is important to detect the predictors of prediabetes progressing to diabetes. Although polyols affect glycometabolism, little is known about the association between fasting serum polyol levels of participants with habitual diet and the risk of prediabetes progressing to type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

In this nested case-control study, 180 participants who developed from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes (progressors), and 180 matched controls (non-progressors) with prediabetes during a 3.5-year follow-up were enrolled. The baseline levels of serum polyols in the fasting state were quantified using time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Multivariate conditional logistic regression was performed to assess the effects of the differential polyol levels on the risk of incident diabetes from prediabetes.

RESULTS

The baseline fasting xylitol levels, but not sorbitol or erythritol levels, were higher in non-progressors than in progressors (P < 0.001). Non-progressors, in comparison with progressors, had significantly higher proportions within the third tertile of xylitol levels (71/180 non-progressors [39.4%] vs. 49/180 progressors [27.2%]). After adjusting for potential confounders, the odds ratio of risk for incident diabetes in the highest tertile of xylitol levels was 0.338 (95% confidence interval 0.182-0.628), when compared with those in the lowest tertile. In addition, the association between xylitol levels and incident diabetes was persistent in those with fasting hyperglycemia and both fasting and 2h-post-glucose-load hyperglycemia, but not in the isolated 2h-post-glucose-load hyperglycemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated baseline fasting serum xylitol levels are associated with a lower risk of prediabetes progressing to diabetes. This association was particularly evident in those with fasting hyperglycemia. These findings suggest that fasting serum xylitol levels may serve as an important predictor and protective factor against the development of diabetes.