My clinical study measured the blood biomakers (glucose, insulin, glucagon, GLP-1, GIP, amino acids, etc) at baseline before an intervention meal and at multiple time points after an intervention meal.
We did this measure three times using three different intervention meals at three different days. My main objective is to compare whether there is any difference in the change in blood biomarkers after different intervention meals.
There are several AUC calculation methods to do this, such as the total AUC, incremental AUC (ignore the area under baseline) and net incremental AUC (subtract the area under baseline). How to determine which one to use and what is the rationale?
Incremental area under response curve more accurately describes the response to meal intervention.
The ‘total’ area is the area under the reading curve down to a blood metabolic level of “zero”. This is biased by different baseline values. The ‘net incremental’ area is the area under the curve above the baseline value. Please note that
the areas below the baseline, if exist, are counted and calculated in this scenario with minus sign, i.e., deducting from the total area. The ‘positive incremental’ area is similar except that areas beneath the baseline are ignored; therefore, the positive incremental area cannot be negative. Therefore the net incremental AUC is usually the most approriate measure.
By the way do not forget to analyse also change from baseline to maximal value. This is also usually important measure.
iAUC (incremental ...) is the most recommended and approved method. Follow iAUC
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