ABSTRACT
The lipid peroxide malondialdehyde [MDA], a marker of free oxygen radicals activity [FORs], together with the three potent antioxidants, vitamin E, vitamin C and selenium as well as soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [sICAM-1] were measured in plasma of 40 insulin dependent diabetic patients. Twenty age and sex matched healthy subjects were also studied as a control group. Plasma levels of the three antioxidants were significantly decreased in poorly controlled diabetic cases when compared to well controlled diabetics and controls. Also, vitamin E and selenium decreased significantly in well controlled diabetics compared to control group. Meanwhile, plasma level of both MDA and sICAM-1 increased significantly in diabetic patients compared to controls. In conclusion, FORs generation increased significantly in IDDM, while there was deranged antioxidant status in diabetics. Also, sICAM-1 levels increased significantly in diabetics and all these effects were more pronounced in poorly controlled cases