Lowering the threshold for defining microalbuminuria: Effects of a lifestyle-metformin intervention in obese "normoalbuminuric" non-diabetic subjects

Background: We investigated whether levels of albuminuria (urinary albumin excretion (UAE)) below those conventionally accepted as microalbuminuria (<30 mg/day) are sensitive to correction of obesity and obesity-related risk factors. Methods: The effects of a 12-month lifestyle modification-metformin program were evaluated in otherwise healthy overweight/obese "normoalbuminuric" subjects: group I with UAE of <10 mg/day (n = 23) and group II with UAE of 10-29 mg/day (n = 18). Results: The subjects of group II were older and heavier, and had higher blood pressure (BP) and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, than those of group I. Creatinine clearances were also higher in group II (148 ± 14 ml/min) than in group I (108 ± 9 ml/min). Although the intervention induced comparable reductions in obesity, BP, lipids and insulin levels in both groups, UAE was significantly reduced in group II (9.1 ± 1.8 mg/24 h; 60% reduction; P < 0.001), and non-significantly in group I (0.75 ± 0.5 mg/day; 12% reduction; P > 0.1). Additionally, greater reduction in creatinine clearance was observed in subjects with higher UAE rates. After the intervention, both groups achieved similar UAE rates (5.7 ± 0.9 and 5.2 ± 1.0 mg/day; P > 0.10). Basal UAE was related to the subjects' creatinine clearance (r = 0.38; P = 0.04). For both groups together, intervention-induced changes in UAE rates were not significantly related to BP, age, or body weight. However, for group II subjects, BP and UAE reduction were positively associated (r = 0.44; P = 0.03). Conclusions: UAE of 10-29 mg/day (hyperalbuminuria), below the conventionally used limit to define microalbuminuria, is already associated with a more adverse cardiovascular risk profile, and is exquisitely sensitive to interventions that reduce obesity, BP, and insulin resistance.