Fluorophores advanced glycation end products (AGEs)-to-NADH ratio is predictor for diabetic chronic kidney and cardiovascular disease

Aims An imbalance in advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and NADH formation has been associated with diabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). No data have been reported on simultaneous measurement of AGEs and NADH in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients. We aimed to compare AGEs, NADH and the AGEs-to-NADH ratio in T2DM and controls, and to assess its relationship with diabetic CKD and CVD. Material and methods In this cross-sectional study, we measured serum AGEs (370/435 nm) and NADH (370/460 nm) in T2DM patients (n = 63) and controls (n = 25) using fluorescence spectroscopy. The AGEs-to-NADH ratio was analyzed according to diabetic CKD and CVD. Results We found significantly higher AGEs-to-NADH ratio in T2DM compared to controls. The AGEs-to-NADH ratio was significantly associated with triglycerides, blood glucose, HDL-cholesterol, estimated glomerular filtration rate. The AGEs-to-NADH ratio was a significant predictor for the presence of diabetic CKD and CVD when using ROC curves. Multivariate analysis showed that triglycerides and the presence of T2DM were predictors for the AGEs-to-NADH ratio. Conclusions These findings suggest that the fluorophores AGEs-to-NADH ratio could be a new biomarker for the presence of diabetic CKD and CVD.