Correlation between mean platelet volume and blood glucose levels after oral glucose loading in normoglycemic and prediabetic Japanese subjects

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: Mean platelet volume (MPV) reflects platelet activity, and high MPV is associated with thrombogenic activation and increased cardiovascular disease risk. Although a positive correlation between MPV and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels has been reported, the correlation between MPV and postprandial glucose levels remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the correlation between MPV and postprandial glucose levels in prediabetic and normoglycemic participants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 1,080 Japanese participants who underwent the 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Based on these results, the participants were divided into three groups: normal glucose tolerance group (NGT; n = 582), impaired fasting glucose group (IFG; n = 205) and impaired glucose tolerance group (IGT; n = 252). The relationship between MPV, FPG, and postchallenge glucose levels after 1 h (1 h‐PG) and 2 h (2 h‐PG) were analyzed. RESULTS: Bivariate correlation analyses showed a significant positive correlation between MPV and both FPG and 1 h‐PG levels in the NGT group, as well as between MPV and 2 h‐PG, total cholesterol, and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol in the IGT group. In contrast, no significant correlation was observed between MPV and postchallenge glucose levels in the IFG group. Multiple correlation analyses showed that FPG levels significantly correlated with MPV in the NGT and IGT groups. In addition, 1 h‐PG and 2 h‐PG levels correlated with MPV in the NTG and IGT groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a possible mechanism by which subjects with postprandial hyperglycemia might be at increased cardiovascular risk.