PLASMA AND URINE MALONDIALDEHYDE LEVELS IN NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETIC-PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT MICROALBUMINURIA

Malondialdehyde, a marker of lipid peroxidation, was measured as thiob arbituric acid-reactive substance in 78 non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients and 28 healthy subjects. Patients were divided into groups a nd subgroups according to the presence of microalbuminuria and other c omplications. Plasma and urine malondialdehyde concentrations were sig nificantly higher in patients with and without microalbuminuria than i n controls. In contrast to urine malondialdehyde, plasma malondialdehy de levels were significantly higher in microalbuminuric diabetes than in the normoalbuminuric diabetic group. There was no correlation betwe en malondialdehyde concentration and glycemic control. This study conf irmed the existence of lipid peroxidation disorders in diabetic patien ts.