Plasma lipid peroxidation and erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Gorgan city

Diabetes mellitus may be associated with the imbalance between protective effect of antioxidants and increased free radical production. Considering the contradictory results in different studies, the aim of this study was to determine the changes of plasma lipid peroxidation and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and comparison of the results with those of healthy control group in Gorgan city. This investigation was a comparative study and sampling method was random. 38 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were refferring to 5th of azar diabetes center and 19 healthy people who had been matched by age and sex to diabetic group were entered into this study. The data were analyzed by means of SPSS and T-test. The plasma level of malondialdehyde of the type 2 diabetes mellitus pateints (6.27±0.80 nmol/ml) showed a significant increase, compared to control group (3.56±0.98 nmol/ml). Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity of type 2 diabetes mellitus pateints (1037.94±78.10 U/gr Hb) was significantly lower than that of control group (1247.84±74.85 U/gr Hb). The increased lipid peroxidation rate and decreased activity of antioxidant enzymes in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients may predispose them to the development of cardiovascular complications. Therefore diabetic pateints may be in need of supernormal amounts of antioxidants. Supplementation with medical or non-medical free radical scavengers such as vitamins E and C or tomato, orange, tangerine, garlic and etc. have a potential role in boosting antioxidant defence mechanism which may be important in diabetic pateints.