Some Parameters of Inflammation & Oxidative Stress in Relation to the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abdul Kareem H. Issa; Ajil AH Al-Zamily; Majeed A. Mustafa

Abdul Kareem H. Issa
Ajil AH Al-Zamily
Majeed A. Mustafa

Abstract

Background: Many clinical trials have indicated that lifestyle modification can delay or prevent the progression to type 2 diabetes in people with impaired glucose tolerance test (IGT). Detection of IGT requires a test which is inconvenient to screen for this condition in clinical practice or in the general population. Therefore, there is a need to search for additional significant risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

Patients &methods: Seventy two adults ≥ 40 years old (36 males and 36 females) were evaluated in this study. They were subjects who performed a brief 75‐grams oral glucose tolerance test and were classified as having normal glucose tolerance (NGT group; 24 subjects), impaired glucose tolerance

(IGT group; 24 subjects), or diabetes mellitus (DM group; 24 patients).In addition to hematocrit (PCV) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum level of highly sensitive C‐reactive protein (hsCRP) was measured. Also the serum levels of thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances (TBARS), iron, copper and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) were estimated in addition to erythrocyte glutathione (Ery‐GSH) level.

Results:Both IGT group and DM group have a significantly high hsCRP mean level (2.59 ± 1.03 and 2.89 ± 0.90 respectively vs. 1.57 ± 1.40 mg /L in NGT group, P< 0.001), and a significantly decreased FRAP level (939.2 ± 157.4 and 961.5 ± 125.1 respectively vs. 1063 ± 104.5 µmole/L in NGT group, p< 0.01 ) as well as a significantly high TBARS and a significantly low Ery‐GSH level in comparison with NGT group. The positive correlation between hsCRP and TBARS, although was statistically not significant, showed a step‐wise increment from NGT, to IGT and to DM group (r = 0.01, 0.14 and 0.23 respectively).

Conclusions:IGT is associated with a state of low‐grade inflammation and oxidative stress. Serum levels of hsCRP as a marker of inflammation and TBARS as a marker of oxidative stress may serve for identifying people at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Such people will be important targets for programs that are designed to prevent diabetes.