Related Experiment Videos
Inter-relationships between DNA damage, ascorbic acid and glycaemic control in Type 2 diabetes mellitus
S W Choi1, I F F Benzie, C S Y Lam
1Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Diabetic Medicine : a Journal of the British Diabetic Association
|September 24, 2005
Summary
In Type 2 diabetes, higher DNA damage is linked to poor glycemic control and low vitamin C. Increasing dietary vitamin C may benefit patients with uncontrolled diabetes and low ascorbic acid levels.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology and Metabolism
- Molecular Biology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Complications in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) are unpredictable.
- Hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, and antioxidant status are implicated in DM complications, but causality remains unclear.
- Biomarker profiling may help identify high-risk individuals for improved outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate baseline fasting plasma ascorbic acid (AA), lymphocytic DNA damage, and glycemic control in Type 2 DM patients.
- To explore a biomarker profiling approach for identifying and improving outcomes in high-risk subjects.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 427 Type 2 DM subjects.
- Measurement of DNA damage, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and ascorbic acid (AA) from fasting blood samples.
Main Results:
- DNA damage directly correlated with FPG (r = 0.540) and HbA1c (r = 0.282) (P < 0.0001).
- DNA damage inversely correlated with plasma AA (r = -0.449) (P < 0.0001).
- Subjects with poor glycemic control and low AA (< 48 microm) exhibited significantly higher DNA damage (P < 0.005).
Conclusions:
- A significant inverse relationship exists between plasma AA and DNA damage in Type 2 DM.
- Type 2 DM patients with poor glycemic control may benefit from increased dietary vitamin C intake.
- Findings support biomarker profiling for identifying individuals who could benefit from intensive therapy.