Photo Credit: AI

The following is a summary of “L-shaped correlation between serum alpha-1-acid glycoprotein concentration and urinary albumin creatinine ratio in females: a cross-sectional survey,” published in the March 2025 issue of Frontiers in Endocrinology by Wang et al. 

Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), an acute phase reactant elevated in impaired glomerular filtration, is explored as a potential kidney disease biomarker alongside UACR, a standard proteinuria marker for early detection.  

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to analyze the correlation between AGP and the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) to enhance understanding of kidney damage mechanisms.  

They analyzed data from 2,579 female participants with serum AGP and UACR from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2015-2018). Participants were divided into 3 equal groups based on serum AGP levels. Univariate and multivariate regression models were employed to estimate the correlation between AGP and UACR. Subgroup analyses evaluated the impact of covariates on this association. Smoothing splines were applied to examine nonlinear relationships and determine correlation thresholds.  

The results showed a significant positive association between AGP and UACR after adjusting for multivariate models (P <0.0001). A specific cohort of non-Hispanic Black individuals under 20 years old with a body mass index (BMI) below 25 kg/m² and a waist circumference (WC) of 80 cm or more demonstrated higher UACR if they had hypertension and sleep disorders but did not have hypercholesterolemia or diabetes (P <0.001). An L-shaped correlation was observed, where UACR plateaued when serum AGP concentration was below 140 mg/dL.  

Investigators concluded a novel L-shaped correlation exists between serum AGP and UACR, with a 140 mg/dL threshold, suggesting a potential intervention target for kidney disease risk reduction. 

Source: frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1438695/full