Oxidative stress in diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACT

Plasma levels of lipid peroxide [malondialdehyde] [MDA] and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase [SOD] activity were measured in 15 diabetic patients without complications, 30 diabetic patients with microvascular complications [retinopathy and /or nephropathy] and in 10 healthy control subjects. Results showed a highly significant increase in plasma levels of MDA among the diabetic patients in comparison to the control subjects and in diabetic patients with complications in comparison to those without complications. Also, there was a highly significant decrease in erythrocyte SOD activity in the diabetic patients in comparison to the control subjects and in diabetic patients with complications in comparison to those without complications. A highly significant positive correlation was found between plasma levels of MDA and each of fasting blood glucose, duration of diabetes mellitus and microalbuminuria