Xanthine oxidase activity in type 2 diabetic Nigerians.

AIM: This study evaluated the activity of xanthine oxidase in Nigerians with type 2 diabetic mellitus as well as its relationship with lipid peroxidation, inflammatory bio markers and glycemic control indices. METHODS: Two hundred and thirty seven (237) subjects, comprising of one hundred and fifty seven (157) DM subjects and eighty (80) aged matched controls participated in this study. Blood samples were collected from the participants for the estimations of xanthine oxidase activity, uric acid, malon diadehyde (MDA), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), high sensitive c - reactive protein (hs CRP), glucose, fructosamine and glycosylated hemoglobin by standard methods. RESULTS: The results of this study showed a significantly increased activity of xanthine oxidase in DM (0.044 ±â€¯0.05µ/mg) compared with apparently healthy controls (0.028 ±â€¯0.00 µ/mg). The mean plasma levels of MDA (42.40 ±â€¯2.50µmol/l) and uric acid (7.22 ±â€¯0.20 mg/dl) in DM were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) than healthy non DM group. The mean levels of hs CRP in DM (4.09 ±â€¯0.91µg/ml) was significantly higher than controls (1.30 ±â€¯0.50µg/ml, p = 0.009). While no association of xanthine oxidase was observed with glycemic control indices and hs CRP, a negative association of xanthine oxidase was observed with MDA (r = -0.514, p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: Increased activity of xanthine oxidase in DM was associated with increased lipid peroxidation and could be a salient entity towards the onset on complications.