[Free oxygen radicals in patients with diabetes mellitus]

Free oxygen radicals (FOR) are one of the factors which participate via lipoperoxides in the development of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis complications affect a large part of diabetic patients. The objective of the present work was to test whether in diabetic patients there is, as compared with healthy subjects, a difference in the FOR activity and in the lipoperoxide blood level. A total of 30 patients with insulin non-dependent diabetes and a control group of 31 healthy subjects were examined. The FOR formation in blood, the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker of lipid paroxidation and serum lipid concentrations were assessed. In patients with diabetes a statistically significant increase in the FOR formation in blood (p < 0.01) and an increased MDA serum concentration (p < 0.01) were found. The mean serum lipid concentrations in the two groups did not differ significantly. The results suggest a significant participation role of highly reactive oxygen species in the development of vascular atherosclerosis complications.