Role of asymmetric-dimethyl-L-arginine (ADMA) and nitrite/nitrate (NOx) in the pathogenesis of oxidative stress in female subjects with uncomplicated type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Abstract Aims To explore the role of asymmetric-dimethyl- l -arginine (ADMA), an endogenous nitric oxide synthetases (NOS) inhibitor, and nitrite/nitrate (NOx) in the pathogenesis of oxidative stress in early stages of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Methods We measured in 99 female subjects with uncomplicated type 1 diabetes (duration disease Results Type 1 diabetic subjects have higher levels of glycemia, HbA1c, LDL cholesterol and NOx, but lower ADMA and serum uric acid (UA), compared with the control group; no further differences were found. A significant linear and inverse correlation was found between NOx and ADMA levels ( R 2  = 0.237, p Conclusions This study suggests a reduced ADMA inhibition of NOS as possible mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of oxidative stress in female subjects with a short duration and uncomplicated type 1 diabetes.