OXIDATIVE STRESS AND GENETIC POLYMORPHISMS IN THE FOLATE METABOLIC PATHWAY AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a polygenic and multifactorial disease which is considered as the most common form of diabetes rising alarmingly throughout the world in the recent times. The interesting fact is that the chronic hyperglycemia in diabetes itself leads to increased oxidative stress, which may result in oxidative DNA damage. In addition to that, the genetic polymorphisms in the folate metabolic pathway play a critical role in the etiology of diabetes and its complications. The development of complications is mainly due to excessive generation of free radicals that could ultimately result in DNA damage. Evidence also suggests that aberrations in folate metabolism may induce oxidative DNA damage in diabetes mellitus. In this fascinating background, this chapter was designed to elucidate the role of oxidative stress and polymorphisms involved in the folate metabolic pathway and its association with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.