Relationship between advanced glycation end-product accumulation in the skin and pulmonary function.
Akira Kubo, Michitaka Kato, Yosuke Sugioka and 4 others
PMID 29581662WHAT IT FOUND
In older adults with normal spirometry, higher skin AGE buildup and more pack-years were linked to lower FEV1/FVC.
In younger adults, skin AGE buildup was not linked to FEV1/FVC. This is an association, not proof of cause.
Key findings
01In the elderly group, skin autofluorescence was independently associated with FEV1/FVC (β=-5.862, p=0.009).
02In the younger group, skin autofluorescence was not independently associated with FEV1/FVC (β=1.759, p=0.332).
03Pack-years of smoking was independently associated with FEV1/FVC in the elderly group (β=-0.203, p=0.002).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot show that skin AGE accumulation causes lower FEV1/FVC. The older group had only 56 participants, and the authors say this was too small for sufficiently powered statistical analysis. The study did not measure oxidative stress, antioxidant, or inflammation parameters, which the authors say are important for understanding the relationship. Possible confounders such as air pollution and genetic disposition were not excluded. Participants had normal spirometry and excluded diabetes, COPD, asthma, interstitial pneumonia, and medications affecting lung function, so the findings do not apply to people with those conditions.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that AGEs cause lung function decline or that lowering AGEs will improve FEV1/FVC. The study is cross-sectional and only found an association in older adults with normal spirometry.