--- title: "Evidence: Glycated hemoglobin (3-month glucose)" description: "Low glycated hemoglobin levels do not appear to increase mortality risk in a non-diabetic UK population; risk only rises above 5.5%." url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s144.md" canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s144.html" html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s144.html" type: "study" study_key: "s144" journal: "Diabetologia" year: 2011 pmid: "21584793" doi: "10.1007/s00125-011-2162-0" citations: 1 updated: 2026-09-02 author: "Gabriel Radu, DO" author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765." publisher: "Magellan Longevity" content_format: "markdown" --- # Evidence: Glycated hemoglobin (3-month glucose) [Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) › Evidence: Glycated hemoglobin (3-month glucose) **HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s144.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/study/s144 ## Citation | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Journal | Diabetologia | | Year | 2011 | | PMID | [21584793](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21584793/) | | DOI | [10.1007/s00125-011-2162-0](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-011-2162-0) | | Study key | s144 | ## Takeaway Low glycated hemoglobin levels do not appear to increase mortality risk in a non-diabetic UK population; risk only rises above 5.5%. ## The question Does a low level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) increase mortality risk in a UK population without known diabetes or cardiovascular disease? ## Hypothesis The study aimed to examine the shape of the risk relationship between glycated hemoglobin and mortality, particularly addressing the debate about increased mortality risk associated with low levels of glycaemia. ## Methods The study included 17,196 men and women aged 39-82 years from the EPIC-Norfolk Study, all without known diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Hazard ratios (HRs) for total and cause-specific mortality were estimated using Cox regression, comparing categories of glycated hemoglobin ( ="6.5%). ## Results During a mean follow-up of 11.2 years, 1,953 participants died. The HR for all-cause mortality increased with increasing glycated hemoglobin categories. Spline regression indicated no increased risk at the low end of the distribution, with the HR for all-cause mortality remaining constant in the low range and only beginning to rise at approximately 5.5%. Similar associations were observed for cause-specific mortality, with the strongest link to cardiovascular mortality. ## Conclusion The findings in this large non-diabetic population do not support the concern about increased mortality risk associated with low glycated hemoglobin levels. Differences in population characteristics might account for conflicting results from previous studies and warrant further investigation. ## Limitations The abstract mentions that differences in population characteristics might explain contrary results of earlier studies, suggesting a potential limitation in generalizability to other populations. ## Verbatim from the abstract > risk for all-cause mortality increased with categories of increasing glycated haemoglobin ## All-Cause Mortality Hazard Ratios by Glycated Hemoglobin Category | Measure | Hazard Ratio | | --- | --- | | <4.5% | 0.94 | | 4.5% to <5.0% | 0.99 | | 5.0% to <5.5% | 1 | | 5.5% to <6.0% | 1.1 | | 6.0% to <6.5% | 1.29 | | ">="6.5% | 1.45 | *Hazard ratios for all-cause mortality increase with higher glycated hemoglobin levels, with the reference category being 5.0% to <5.5%.* ## Where this study is used on Magellan This paper is one of the citations behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of affiliate commissions. | Compound or device | Evidence grade | Graded pages | | --- | --- | --- | | HbA1c Home Kit | — | — | ## Reference 1. **Evidence: Glycated hemoglobin (3-month glucose)** Diabetologia 2011 · [PMID 21584793](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21584793/) · [DOI 10.1007/s00125-011-2162-0](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-011-2162-0) > risk for all-cause mortality increased with categories of increasing glycated haemoglobin ## Structured data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s144.html#page","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s144.html","name":"Evidence: Glycated hemoglobin (3-month glucose)","description":"Low glycated hemoglobin levels do not appear to increase mortality risk in a non-diabetic UK population; risk only rises above 5.5%.","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gabriel Radu, DO","jobTitle":"Physiatrist (PM&R)","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NPI","value":"1376861765"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NY medical license","value":"275110"}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"encoding":{"@type":"MediaObject","encodingFormat":"text/markdown","contentUrl":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s144.md"},"dateModified":"2026-09-02"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research map","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Evidence: Glycated hemoglobin (3-month glucose)","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s144.html"}]},{"@type":"ScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s144.html#study","name":"Evidence: Glycated hemoglobin (3-month glucose)","headline":"Evidence: Glycated hemoglobin (3-month glucose)","datePublished":"2011","isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"Diabetologia"},"identifier":"PMID:21584793","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21584793/","sameAs":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-011-2162-0","abstract":"Low glycated hemoglobin levels do not appear to increase mortality risk in a non-diabetic UK population; risk only rises above 5.5%."}]} ``` ## Related on Magellan Longevity - [Glycated haemoglobin, diabetes, and mortality in men in the EPIC-Norfolk cohort](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d11141143.md) - [Longevity research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) - [Evidence-based longevity supplements](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-supplements.md) ## Scope and disclosures Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases. Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).