[Antioxidant enzymes in insulin-dependent diabetes in the child and adolescent]

Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities were measured in erythrocytes of 214 young patients with insulin-dependent diabetes and 37 healthy subjects with similar age and sex distribution. The diabetic patients were divided into groups and subgroups according to sex, age, duration of disease, existence of diabetes complications and family history of atherogenic risks. Data analysis was performed by comparing enzyme activities in subgroups according to the degree of diabetes control and the plasmatic level of various lipid fractions. Results showed that superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities in young diabetic patients were similar to those in controls, except for patients with retinopathy, whose glutathione peroxidase activity was decreased. This last finding might suggest that there is a relationship between the development of diabetic microvascular complications and the accumulation of free radicals and peroxide lipids.