Serum Malondialdehyde Levels & Paraoxonase Activity as Markers of Atherogenicity in Normotensive type 2 Diabetics

Oxidative stress plays a role in long-term complications of diabetes promotes lipid peroxidation leading to atherogenesis. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a highly toxic by-product formed in part by lipid oxidation derived free radicals. Human serum paraoxonase is an enzyme that is physically bound to high density lipoproteins (HDL) and plays a role in anti-atherogenic action of HDL Atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) calculated as log (TG/HDL-C) is used as a significant predictor of atherogenicity of plasma. Aim of the study was to find out the association between lipid peroxidation, paraoxonase activity and the subsequent atherogenic dyslipidemia in diabetes mellitus. The study group consisted of a total of 100 subjects, which included 50 normotensive diabetic subjects & 50 normotensive controls.MDA levels and paraoxonase activity was measured spectrophotometrically in serum and was compared with that of controls. Atherogenic index of plasma was calculated.Cases showed significant increase in MDA levels as well as increased atherogenic index where as paraoxonase activity was decreased in cases. We conclude that, hyperglycemia of diabetes is associated with elevated levels of plasma MDA and decreased paraoxonase levels.So, MDA & paraoxonase in conjunction with atherogenic index may be particularly useful in predicting atherogenic risk in normotensive type 2 diabetes mellitus.