Serum glycosidase activity in diabetes mellitus.

The activity of three glycosidic enzymes, B-glucuronidase, N-acetylglucosaminidase, and B-galactosidase were measured in plasma samples from 163 diabetic subjects and 72 normal controls. No age- or sex-based variation in concentration was noted in controls. Plasma activity of B-glucuronidase and N-acetylglucosaminidase in diabetics correlated directly with the overall level of glycemia as measured by HbA1c levels. B-galactosidase activity was consistently normal in diabetics. A significant age-based variation was noted in the diabetic group for B-glucuronidase and N-acetylglucosaminidase. Prior to age 12 B-glucuronidase and N-acetylglucosaminidase were normal in diabetics, but activity increased significantly after the age of 12, a change that appeared to coincide with the development of puberty.