Clinical and Diagnostic Implications of Glycated Albumin in Diabetes Mellitus: An Update

In diabetes mellitus (DM), non-enzymatic glycation of proteins, lipids, and fatty acids is accelerated due to persistent hyperglycemia and plays an important role in diabetes and its associated secondary complications. Glycation has the potential to alter the biological, structural, and functional properties of macromolecules. Glycated products (early and late) are both involved in provoking the immune-regulatory cells and generating autoantibodies in diabetic patients. More precisely, human serum albumin is the most abundant protein in circulation involved in glycation. Glycated albumin may accumulate in the body tissues of diabetic patients and participate in its secondary complications. This chapter compiles the studies focused on changes in the secondary and tertiary structure of proteins upon glucosylation. Various in-vitro and in-vivo approaches involved in investigating such changes are systematically reviewed. Besides, the potential role of glycated albumin in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus, as well as its applicability as a diagnostic marker in the progression of the disease, is also highlighted.