Objective Skeletal muscle is the main target organ for
glycemic control, and the serum
creatinine level is a convenient
indicator of the skeletal muscle mass. This study aimed to assess the potential relationship between the serum
creatinine level and the onset of impaired fasting
glucose (IFG). Methods In this large, community-based, retrospective longitudinal cohort study, we examined the records of 7,905 Japanese participants (3,863 men, 4,042 women) of 18-80 years of age who underwent annual health checkups at a single center between April 2003 and August 2013. After applying the exclusion criteria, 6,490 participants were reviewed to identify those with the onset of IFG, defined as a fasting plasma
glucose ≥6.11 mM. Among the participants, 278 met the criterion for the onset of IFG during the observation period. Results
Creatinine levels were higher in male subjects who exercised periodically and were exercise conscious in comparison to those who did not exercise, and were higher in female subjects who exercised periodically in comparison to female subjects who did not exercise and who were not exercise conscious. Additionally, the serum
creatinine level was negatively associated with the onset of IFG in both men [adjusted hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.96-0.99; p=0.008] and women (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.91-0.97; p<0.001) after adjustment for variables previously reported to be risk factors for the onset of
glucose intolerance and factors associated with
chronic kidney disease. Conclusion A low
creatinine level might be associated with the onset of IFG. Moreover, the fact that serum
creatinine levels increase with exercise might demonstrate the importance of
exercise therapy.