Skin autofluorescence (SAF) reflects the tissue accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and serves as a non-invasive biomarker of chronic diabetic renal complications. Its role in detecting early renal impairment among non-diabetic individuals remains unclear.

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 78 non-diabetic Vietnamese adults. Univariate and multivariable regression analyses were performed to evaluate the the relationship between SAF levels and renal function loss measured as estimated glomerular filtration rate.

In univariate analyses, SAF was positively correlated with age (r = 0.46, p < 0.01), cystatin C (r = 0.49, p < 0.01), and fasting blood glucose (r = 0.32, p < 0.01), and negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (r = –0.46, p < 0.01) and serum albumin (r = –0.31, p < 0.01). In the multivariable linear regression model, SAF remained independently associated with eGFR (β = –13.88, p < 0.01).

The significant associations between SAF—a marker of AGE accumulation in the skin—and age, fasting glucose, cystatin C, albumin, and eGFR suggest that SAF may serve as an early indicator of renal risks even in non-diabetic individuals.