Biomarkers of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Background: Oxidative stress has become the focus of interest in most biomedical disciplines and many types of clinical research. Increasing evidence from research on several diseases shows that oxidative stress is associated with the pathogenesis of diabetes and many other diseases. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the status of oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymes related parameters in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. Patients and Methods: A total of 110 patients (70 patients newly diagnosed diabetic and 40 healthy) were studied by evaluating the level of lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde [MDA]), nitric oxide (NO), fasting blood sugar (FBS), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), were also evaluated. Results: The FBS and HbA1c levels were significantly higher in diabetic patients compared to those of healthy participants. Higher levels of MDA and NO were observed in the diabetic group compared to those in the healthy participants. A significant decrease was observed in serum SOD, CAT, and GPx activities in the serum of T1DM patients by 16.7%, 72.8%, and 15.3%, respectively (P < 0.05), as compared with their activities in the controls. On the basis of sex, both male and female patients showed a significant reduction in antioxidant levels as compared to their respective controls. Conclusions: These results indicated that oxidative status and antioxidant levels were affected in T1DM. The results suggested that the biomarkers such as the plasma levels of lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in early diagnosed diabetics can be used to monitor the developing complications of the diabetes.