BackgroundIt is well known that adiposity is a risk factor for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the associations of measures of adiposity with indices of glycemia and of glycemic variability over a 72-h period in non-diabetic older adults.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in non-diabetic individuals from the Active and Healthy Aging Study (N = 228), Switchbox (N = 116), and the Growing Old Together Study (N = 94). Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were measured, and indices of glycemia and glycemic variability were derived from continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) using the Mini-Med® CGM system. Associations between adiposity and CGM were studied separately for the three cohorts, and derived estimates were subsequently meta-analyzed.ResultsAfter meta-analyzing the results from the separate cohorts, individuals with a higher BMI had higher levels of glycemia. Individuals with BMI between 30 and 35 kg/m2 had 0.28 mmol/L [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.12–0.44] higher 72 h-mean glucose concentration, 0.26 mmol/L (0.10–0.42) higher diurnal glucose (6:00 a.m. to 0:00 a.m.), and 0.39 mmol/L (0.19; 0.59) higher nocturnal glucose (3:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.) than participants with a normal weight (BMI 18.5–25 kg/m2). However, no associations were observed between higher BMI and glycemic variability. Results for glycemia and glycemic variability were similarly observed for a high waist circumference.ConclusionHigh adiposity associates with constant higher mean glucose levels over the day in non-diabetic older adults.

BackgroundElevated concentrations of liver enzymes have been associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, it remains unclear to which specific aspects of diurnal glucose metabolism these associate most. We aimed to investigate the associations between liver enzyme concentrations and 24 h-glucose trajectories in individuals without diabetes mellitus from three independent cohorts.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 436 participants without diabetes mellitus from the Active and Healthy Aging Study, the Switchbox Study, and the Growing Old Together Study. Fasting blood samples were drawn to measure gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), alanine transaminase, and aspartate transaminase. Measures of glycemia (e.g., nocturnal and diurnal mean glucose levels) and glycemic variability (e.g., mean amplitude of glucose excursions) were derived from continuous glucose monitoring. Analyses were performed separately for the three cohorts; derived estimates were additionally meta-analyzed.ResultsAfter meta-analyses of the three cohorts, elevated liver enzyme concentrations, and specifically elevated GGT concentrations, were associated with higher glycemia. More specific, participants in the highest GGT tertile (GGT ≥37.9 U/L) had a 0.39 mmol/L (95% confidence interval: 0.23, 0.56) higher mean nocturnal glucose (3:00 to 6:00 a.m.) and a 0.23 mmol/L (0.10, 0.36) higher diurnal glucose (6:00 to 0:00 a.m.) than participants in the lowest GGT tertile (GGT <21.23 U/L). However, elevated liver enzyme concentrations were not associated with a higher glycemic variability.ConclusionThough elevated liver enzyme concentrations did not associate with higher glycemic variability in participants without diabetes mellitus, specifically, elevated GGT concentrations associated with higher glycemia.