Assessment of Oxidative Stress and Lipid Status in Patients of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with and without Complications

Oxidative stress plays an important role in different disease processes. Some studies conducted on diabetic patients also support it. But very few studies have been conducted in the Indian subcontinent so far. Lipid peroxidation refers to the oxidative degradation of lipids. In this process free radicals take electrons from the lipids (generally in cell membranes), resulting in cell damage. Quantification of lipid peroxidation is essential to assess oxidative stress in pathophysiological processes. The end products of lipid peroxidation are reactive aldehydes such as malondialdehyde (MDA) as natural bi-products. Measuring the end products of lipid peroxidation is one of the most widely accepted assays for oxidative damage. This study was designed to assess the levels of oxidative stress in patients suffering from diabetes mellitus (DM) and to compare them with controls. Also, the study attempted to evaluate correlation between oxidative stress marker MDA and lipids as well as lipoproteins in type 2 DM subjects both with and without complications so as to analyse the role of lipid peroxidation in causing secondary pathophysiologic changes in multiple organ systems. The present study was conducted in Department of Clinical Biochemistry S.B.K.S. Medical Institute. & Research Centre, Waghodiya, Gujarat. Sixty diabetic patients were divided into two groups. Group A comprised of 30 (thirty) diabetic patients without complications and Group B comprised of 30 (thirty) diabetic patients with complications. Sixty normal healthy persons were selected for the study to serve as controls. The parameters assessed in diabetic subjects as well as healthy controls were: Serum MDA level which is a product of lipid peroxidation and Serum lipids as well as lipoproteins (Total Cholesterol, Triglycerides, High density lipoprotein cholesterol, Low density lipoprotein cholesterol). Mean values of MDA in type 2 diabetic subjects with complications were significantly higher (P<0.001) than values observed in type 2 diabetic subjects without complications. Values obtained for the lipids and lipoproteins in type 2 diabetic subjects with complications were significantly high (P≤ 0.001) compared to type 2 diabetic subjects without complications. The present study concludes that there is a significant elevation as well as correlation between oxidative stress marker MDA and various lipid parameters in type 2 diabetic subjects with complications compared to diabetic subjects without complications. This indicates increased lipid peroxidation in DM subjects with complications which may play a significant role in the development of DM associated vascular complications.