Relationship between blood glucose and homocysteine among adults with normal and impaired cognition: a population-based study from Haryana, North India

Corresponding Author: Naorem Kiranmala Devi, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007,
Email: kmaladevi@gmail.com

KEYWORDS Cognitive impairment, blood glucose, hyperhomocysteinemia, rural community, Haryana

ABSTRACT
Background: Elevated homocysteine and abnormal blood glucose levels can occur as comorbidities and have been associated with accelerated cognitive decline, making it crucial for individuals with cognitive impairment (CI) to keep them within healthy physiological ranges. However, the relationship between hyperhomocysteinemia and blood glucose levels remains understudied, especially among individuals with CI. To address this gap, the present study aims to understand the relationship between fasting blood glucose levels and plasma homocysteine among Jat adults with normal and impaired cognition.
Methods: The present study was conducted on 737 individuals (58.2% females; median age 52 years) from Palwal, Haryana. All participants were screened for CI using the Mini-mental state examination scale (MMSE). Based on MMSE scores, participants were categorized into normal cognition, mild CI, and moderate/severe CI categories. Five ml of fasting blood was collected from each participant for biochemical analysis. Estimation of blood glucose and homocysteine levels was done through standard biochemical techniques. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22.
Results: Hypoglycaemia was found to pose 2.4 and 2.1-folds significantly increased risk of hyperhomocysteinemia among individuals with normal cognition and those with moderate/severe CI, but not among those with mild CI. However, regardless of cognition status, hyperglycaemia was not found to be associated with hyperhomocysteinemia.
Conclusions: Hypoglycaemia, but not hyperglycaemia, appears to have a differential association with hyperhomocysteinemia among individuals with different cognitive health statuses. More studies should be taken up for better elucidation of the relationship between these two blood parameters among individuals with different health conditions.

Neha Singh¹, Vineet Chaudhary¹, Kevingu Khate¹, Naorem Kiranmala Devi¹

¹Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007, India

DOI-DS: 12.2022-69318636
DOI Link ::https://doi-ds.org/doilink/12.2022-69318636/Frontier anthropology/06.2021-53228984/V11/A

Frontier Anthropology, 2022, 11: 37-43
©Anthropological Society of Manipur

Original Article

Manuscript Timeline
Submitted: September 28, 2022
Accepted: December 14, 2022
Published: December 29, 2022