A comparative oxidative stress study--obesity with and without diabetes mellitus

Oxidative stress and inflammation are involved in the initiation and progression of obesity and diabetes mellitus. The aim of our study was to find out some markers of oxidative stress in twenty obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (group D) and twenty age-matched obese subjects (group O) and compare the results with the control values from twenty matched healthiy subjects (group H). Spectrophotometric methods were used. For the following plasma parameters: ceruloplasmin, d-ROM (determinable Reactive Oxygen Metabolites), alpha-dicarbonyls, the values were modified in the same way for the groups of patients versus healthy subjects. The patients had higher alpha-dicarbonyls levels than the controls (for D versus H, p<0.047 and for O versus H, p<0.043). There were not significant differences for plasma ceruloplasmin and d-ROM levels. Comparing group O versus D, all the above parameters had very close values. The antioxidant capacity (AC) was higher in group O versus group H (p<0.001) and higher in group O versus D (p<0.02). The high AC for obese patients may be due to hyperuricemia. A negative correlation between AC and d-ROM concentrations and a positive correlation between ceruloplasmin and AC levels was observed for group D. Our data underline that in type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, the plasma markers of oxidative stress are modified in the same way. Oxidative stress may be a "connector" between these two diseases. Probably body fat reduction (for obese individuals) diminishes oxidant formation and, in its turn, the incidence of obesity related diseases, such as diabetes mellitus.