The influence of body mass index on the accumulation of advanced glycation end products in hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The level of skin autofluorescence (AF) at a given moment is an independent predictor of mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Skin AF is a measure of the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). The aim of the study was to estimate the influence of nutrition on the 1-year increase of skin AF (Delta AF) in HD patients.SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 156 HD patients were enrolled in this study. Skin AF, body mass index (BMI), superoxide dismutase, myeloperoxidase, C-reactive protein, inter-cellular adhesion molecule-1, von Willebrand factor and heart-type fatty acid-binding protein were measured four times at intervals of approximately half a year. Data from the monthly routine blood analysis were also used. Daily calorie, protein and AGE intakes were assessed from food recordings over a period of 1 week.RESULTS: A J-shaped relation was found between baseline BMI and Delta AF (P = 0.01). The lowest point of the J-shaped curve is found for BMI = 24.3 kg/m(2). In the univariate analysis of the contributors to the 1-year Delta AF, we found that beside BMI = 24.3 kg/m(2), AGE and calorie intakes, as well as myeloperoxidase and HD vintage, had a P <0.10. The sole independent predictor of the 1-year Delta AF was BMI = 24.3 kg/m(2) (P = 0.01).CONCLUSIONS: It appears that calorie, protein and AGE intakes hardly influence the 1-year Delta AF in HD patients. BMI of HD patients of around 24 kg/m(2) resulted in a lower 1-year Delta AF.