Erythrocyte oxidant/antioxidant status of diabetic patients

Present study aims to establish erythrocyte oxidant/antioxidant status in d iabetic patients with and without atherosclerotic complications. Pasting bl ood samples were obtained from 23 diabetic and 12 control subjects. Thirtee n patients had no disease other than diabetes mellitus and 10 patients had also atherosclerosis in addition to diabetes mellitus. Erythrocyte antioxid ant potential (AOP) and thiobarbituric acid reagent substances (TBARS) leve ls were measured in these patients and results were compared with those of controls, who were chosen among healthy subjects. Results suggest that alth ough there is an oxidant stress in the erythrocytes of diabetics, this is n ot due to reduced erythrocyte antioxidant defence potential but, rather, in creased free radical production possibly due to hyperglycemia. (C) 2000, Ed itrice Kurtis.