SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Clin. Diabetes Healthc.
Sec. Diabetes Health Services and Health Economics
Volume 6 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fcdhc.2025.1590288
Skin autofluorescence is associated with blood glucose levels, especially in children with type 1 diabetes
Provisionally accepted
- 1Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- 2Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
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Background: This study examines the correlation between skin autofluorescence (SAF) and blood glucose levels, emphasizing the accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). We hypothesize that SAF levels are closely linked to type 1 diabetes complications in children. The aim is to evaluate SAF ' s relationship with type 1 diabetes progression in children and its potential as a non-invasive tool for disease detection and monitoring complications. The research was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021284774).Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis by extracting studies from databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science. A random effects model was used to assess if SAF measurement could serve as a non-invasive marker for type 1 diabetes and its complications. SAF values were compared between children with type 1 diabetes and controls, calculating the mean difference and 95% confidence intervals.Results: The analysis included three case-control studies and one retrospective cohort study, all using the AGE Reader® (DiagnOptics Technologies). Data analysis showed significant heterogeneity (I ² = 82%, P < 0.05). The random effects model revealed a positive correlation between higher SAF levels and type 1 diabetes in children [mean difference = 0.20 (0.16, 0.25)],indicating elevated SAF in diabetic children compared to non-diabetic peers.Conclusion: This research supports SAF measurement as a non-invasive indicator for type 1 diabetes and its complications in children. However, further studies with larger samples and longer follow-up are needed for definitive conclusions and detailed insights into complications.Additionally, the skin's multifaceted roles require further investigation.
Keywords: skin autofluorescence, Diabetes Mellitus, Children, diagnosis, Meta-analysis
Received: 17 Mar 2025; Accepted: 09 Jun 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Deng, Wu and Cheng. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Hongbin Cheng, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
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