Erythrocyte reduced glutathione, serum zinc, selenium and copper levels in diabetic subjects with and without diabetic foot

ABSTRACT

In this study, red blood cell [RBC] concentrations of reduced glutathione [GSH], serum selenium, zinc and copper levels were determined in 40 type II diabetic subjects with and without diabetic foot as well as 20 controls. In erythrocytes of diabetic patients with diabetic foot [group I], GSH levels were significantly lowered than both diabetic patients without infection [group I] and those of the control. Serum selenium and zinc levels were significantly lower in patients of group II than those of group I and the controls, whereas the levels of serum copper were higher in subjects of group I and group II than the healthy individuals. These results suggested that infection increased the impairment of glutathione metabolism in erythrocytes of diabetic patients