RESUMO
The study included 27 type I diabetic children [14 males and 13 females] aged 6-13 years who attended the Diabetic Outpatient Clinic of Pediatric Department in Tanta University Hospital. They were divided into two groups: Group I: twelve type I DM children with good glycemic control. Group II: fifteen freshly diagnosed type I DM children. Fifteen healthy children of matched age and sex served as controls [group III]. Clinical examination, CBC, Fasting blood glucose, urine analysis, glycated hemoglobin [HbA1C], serum lipid profile [total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, HDL, Apo-A I and Apo-B], superoxide dismutase [SOD] in RBCs, and malondialdehyde [MDA] in serum were done. Patients of group I were given a 3-week course of vitamin E plus vitamin C after which the effect on serum MDA was studied. Both groups I and II showed significantly elevated serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, Apo-A1 and Apo-B and decreased HDL as compared to controls. They also showed decreased RBCs-SOD [indicating decreased antioxidant status] and increased serum MDA [indicating increased lipid peroxidation] as compared to controls. On vitamin E and C supplementation to group I, serum MDA showed a significant decrease. It is suggested that dyslipidemia, impaired antioxidant status and increased lipid peroxidation can occur in type I diabetic children despite good glycemic control and that vitamin E and C supplementation can be helpful in these cases to decrease lipid peroxidation and consequently diabetic complications