Alterations in the antioxidant status of patients suffering from diabetes mellitus and associated cardiovascular complication - Neergheen-Bhujun el al. 1(2); Arch Med Biomed Res

ARCHIVES of Medical and Biomedical Research

e-ISSN 1694-2078
p-ISSN 1694-2086

Arch Med Biomed Res. 2014;1:35-46.

Metabolic Disorders

Alterations in the antioxidant status of patients suffering from diabetes mellitus and associated cardiovascular complications

Vidushi S Neergheen-Bhujun¹, Varuna Seenauth-Beesoo², Noorjehan Joonas³, Okezie I Aruoma⁴, Theeshan Bahorun⁵

Author Affiliations

¹Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science and ANDI Centre of Excellence for Biomedical and Biomaterials Research, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Republic of Mauritius
²Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Republic of Mauritius
³Department of Biochemistry, Central Health Laboratory, Victoria hospital, Candos, Republic of Mauritius
⁴School of Pharmacy, American University of Health Sciences, Signal Hill, CA 90755, USA
⁵ANDI Centre of Excellence for Biomedical and Biomaterials Research, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Republic of Mauritius

correspondence to
Vidushi S Neergheen-Bhujun; v.neergheen@uom.ac.mu

Received: January 6, 2014
Revised: January 31, 2014
Accepted: February 07, 2014

Abstract

In view of the high prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, this study aimed at determining the total plasma antioxidant capacity of type 2 diabetic patients with and without macrovascular complications. The erythrocyte catalase level was also evaluated because of the implication of catalase as a risk factor in diabetes. 90 age-, gender- and body mass index-matched subjects were used for this study and divided into healthy subjects (Group I, n=30), diabetic patients (Group II, n=30) and diabetic patients with cardiovascular complications (Group III, n=30). Blood samples collected from 90 eligible subjects were analyzed for glucose, HbA1c, urea, creatinine, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL and LDL cholesterol levels. Blood antioxidant activity and erythrocyte catalase levels were assessed. The mean antioxidant status values of Groups II and III were found to be significantly lower than that of Group I (p < 0.05). A significant decrease was also observed in the mean catalase level of Groups II and III as compared to Group I (p < 0.05) while a significant increase in fasting blood glucose level, glycated hemoglobin, triglycerides and urea was observed in Groups II and III compared to Group I. These data suggest that the in vivo antioxidant defense was highly compromised in patients with diabetes and associated cardiovascular complications although they were on medication, thereby suggesting the potential contributory beneficial effects of exogenous antioxidants. Furthermore, a reduction in catalase level may suggest the role of increasing hydrogen peroxide concentration in the disease progression.

KEY WORDS: Antioxidant; Erythrocyte catalase; Cardiovascular complications; Type 2 diabetes mellitus

This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 3.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial.