Carboxymethyl-lysine is a waste product of normal human metabolism.  It is formed from the oxidation of both carbohydrates (sugars) and fats.  This process is referred to as oxidative stress.

· Scientist have shown that older adults with high blood levels of Carboxymethyl-lysine (CML) are at higher risk of mortality, not only from heart disease and stroke but also all-cause mortality.  This was reported in the latest issue of the Journal of The American Geriatric Society.

· Scientists studied Carboxymethyl-lysine (CML) blood levels in over 1,000 adults over six years.  Over that period of time, 227 participants died.  The adults with the highest levels of Carboxymethyl-lysine (CML) had a 84% higher risk of all-cause mortality.  The adults with the highest levels of Carboxymethyl-lysine had over twice the risk of dying from heart disease or stroke compared with adults with the lowest levels of Carboxymethyl-lysine.

· Elevated levels of Carboxymethyl-lysine are a sign of oxidative stress.  Oxidative stress is associated with arterial plaque formation (plaque within arteries).  High levels of Carboxymethyl-lysine would be analogous to having high levels of cholesterol,  leading to obstructed arteries, heart attacks and strokes.

· The link between elevated levels of Carboxymethyl-lysine and risk of all-cause death is not completely clear.  The researchers in this study do not define the other causes of death of the adults in their study, so it is difficult to analyze the risk of dying from other causes besides vascular disease.

· Currently, we use information such as cholesterol levels, blood glucose levels and blood pressure to assess the risk of a patient’s mortality.  This new study gives us valuable insight into an additional risk factor and I suspect that we will use this type of test in the future to help optimally treat our adult patients.

Cristopher Geiler, MD
J Am Geriatr Soc 2009;57:1874-1880