Clinical Application of Hair Protein Glycation in the Assessment of Blood Glucose Control and Diabetic Neuropathy

The study assessed the glycation of hair protein in diabetic patients by measuring furosine, a derivative of glycated lysine, in 12-cm-long hair samples representing one year of growth. The level of furosine showed a significant correlation with mean fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and hemoglobin A1c levels, suggesting that hair glycation reflects long-term blood glucose levels. Additionally, motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities correlated better with hair furosine levels than with FPG and hemoglobin A1c, indicating that hair glycation could be a valuable indicator of both long-term blood glucose trends and the relationship between diabetic complications and blood glucose.