A study on Association of Antioxidant Status of Red Blood Cells with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Introduction: Oxidative stress plays a role in the pathogenesis of type 2 Diabetes either by effecting insulin secretion or increasing resistance to insulin. Oxidative stress is dealt by the body with the help of several antioxidant systems. The antioxidant levels in disorders causing oxidative stress such as diabetes mellitus are found to be low. Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels are found to be depleted in diabetic groups when compared to control group comprising healthy individuals. The activities of SOD and GPx are significantly low in diabetic patients. Aim: To determine the total antioxidant capacity and levels of antioxidants such as SOD and GPx in patients with type 2 diabetes and association between antioxidant levels and type 2 diabetics as well as type 2 diabetes and its associated complications. Materials and Methods: The study population comprised of 150 individuals, 50 subjects belonging to each subgroup of type 2 diabetics, type 2 diabetics and its associated complications and healthy subjects. Study was conducted in a tertiary care centre in Mangalore, Karnataka during a study period of September to December 2016. Total antioxidant capacity of RBC, fasting blood levels of SOD and GPx were estimated by phosphomolybdenum method, NBT reduction method and Rotruck method respectively. Results: The results of our study showed that total antioxidant capacity, SOD and GPx were lower among diabetics and diabetic patients with complications as compared to normal non-diabetic subjects. No significant differences in oxidative stress were found between patients with and without chronic complications of diabetes. Conclusion: It is evident from the results of our study that there exists significant deficiency of markers of antioxidant defence in diabetics as well as diabetics with its associated complications. This indicates that there is a scope for antioxidant supplementation in individuals at risk of developing diabetes in general population and diabetic patients at risk of developing its chronic complications.

Keywords

• antioxidant defence
• glutathione peroxidase
• oxidative stress
• superoxide dismutase