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Relationship between serum levels of methylguanidine and glycemic control in IDDM children
K Nagashima1, H Yagi, S Yutani
1Department of Pediatrics, Gunma University School of Medicine, Japan.
Insights
Serum methylguanidine levels are higher in children with poorly controlled insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Elevated methylguanidine correlates with poor glycemic control, suggesting its potential as a marker for diabetes management.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Disorders
- Pediatric Diabetes
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus is associated with increased oxidative stress.
- Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications.
- Methylguanidine, a metabolic byproduct, is synthesized via pathways influenced by oxidative stress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum methylguanidine levels in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM).
- To assess the relationship between methylguanidine levels and glycemic control markers in pediatric IDDM patients.
- To explore the potential of methylguanidine as a biomarker for diabetic control.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 48 children with IDDM and 17 age-matched controls were studied.
- Diabetic children were stratified into well-controlled (HbA1c < 8%) and poorly controlled (HbA1c > 8%) groups.
- Serum methylguanidine concentrations were quantified using an enzymatic assay.
Main Results:
- Serum methylguanidine levels were significantly elevated in poorly controlled IDDM children compared to well-controlled and control groups (P < 0.01).
- Methylguanidine concentrations demonstrated a positive correlation with HbA1c and fructosamine levels (P < 0.01).
- No significant associations were found between methylguanidine levels and age, sex, diabetes duration, or insulin dosage.
Conclusions:
- Serum methylguanidine levels in pediatric IDDM are influenced by glycemic control status.
- Measuring serum methylguanidine may serve as a valuable tool for assessing the degree of diabetic control in children.
- Further research could validate methylguanidine as a clinical indicator in diabetes management.
Objective:
To examine the serum levels of methylguanidine in IDDM children and compare them with markers for glycemic control. Reports have indicated that active oxygen, which damages various tissues, increases in diabetes mellitus. The increase of active oxygen is one of the risk factors for diabetic complications. The synthesis of methylguanidine, a metabolic product of guanidine, is mainly regulated by active oxygen.
Research Design And Methods:
Forty-eight children with IDDM (mean age 13.3 yr) and 17 age-matched nondiabetic control subjects were studied. Diabetic children were divided into a well-controlled group (HbA1c < 8%, n = 24) and a poorly controlled group (HbA1c > 8%, n = 24). Serum concentrations of methylguanidine were measured by enzymatic assay.
Results:
Levels of methylguanidine in the poorly controlled group (1.31 +/- 0.08 microM) were significantly higher than those in both the well-controlled group (0.85 +/- 0.08 microM) and the control group (0.59 +/- 0.11 microM), respectively (P < 0.01). Methylguanidine levels showed a positive correlation with the levels of HbA1c (P < 0.01) or fructosamine (P < 0.01). No significant correlations were noted between methylguanidine levels and age, sex, duration of diabetes, or insulin dose.
Conclusions:
Our data indicate that the levels of methylguanidine in IDDM children might be affected by glycemic control and that the determination of serum methylguanidine levels could be a useful test for evaluating the state of diabetic control.