Glucono-Delta-Lactone: An In Vitro Inhibitor of Hyperglycemia-Induced Coagulation

Diabetes is a disease in which premature development of conditions which increase blood coagulation are the leading cause of death. A reduction in the consequences of elevated glucose levels is the main focus of clinical treatment. It has been determined that the addition of glucose to anti-coagulated human blood, followed by incubation for 24 hours results in the generation of a hypercoagulable state, which is evaluated by reduction in whole blood clotting time. Incubation for 2 hours did not show the same change in clotting. Furthermore, the addition of glucono-delta-lactone, a low-toxicity food additive mitigated the hypercoagulable state which may, in part, be produced by tissue factor generated by up-regulated monocytes. This demonstration of in vitro glucose toxicity may broaden our clinical knowledge of the diabetic state. Also, glucono-delta-lactone warrants additional studies to confirm its anticoagulant properties.