Effect of Age and Menopause on Serum Concentrations of Pentosidine, an Advanced Glycation End Product

Abstract

Background. Pentosidine is an advanced glycation end product. Our aim is to investigate (a) the age-related change of serum pentosidine and (b) the effect of menopause on serum pentosidine.

Methods. Using the high-performance liquid-chromatography method with column switching, we measured serum pentosidine in 140 healthy women aged 20–93 years. Serum creatinine was also measured. The samples of 13 young and 13 old subjects were used for the measurements of free pentosidine and fractions of pentosidine. Free pentosidine was measured without hydrolysis, and the fractions were measured with a 10,000 mol wt cutoff filter. To investigate the effect of menopause on pentosidine, two biochemical markers for bone turnover (CTx and osteocalcin) were measured in age-matched premenopausal and postmenopausal women (16 in each group).

Results. Serum pentosidine significantly increased with age (r = .702, p < .0001). The values of serum pentosidine for the groups beyond the age of 50 were significantly higher than those for the younger groups. The value for the group aged 80–93 years was three times higher than that for the group aged 20–29 years. Serum pentosidine moderately and significantly correlated to serum creatinine (r = .483, p = .0001). Free pentosidine was detected in only 3 of 13 young subjects and 2 of 13 old subjects. The ratio of free to total pentosidine was 2.9% and 1.2% in young and old subjects, respectively. Pentosidine <10,000 mol wt was not detected in all subjects. Pentosidine >10,000 mol wt was detected in all subjects. Serum CTx and osteocalcin significantly increased in postmenopausal women compared with those of premenopausal women. There was no significant change in serum pentosidine between the premenopause group and the postmenopause group.

Conclusion. Serum pentosidine significantly increased with age in healthy subjects aged 20–93 years and correlated to serum creatinine. The changes of fractions of pentosidine with aging were not observed. There was no effect of menopause on pentosidine.