title: Effect of glycemic control, race (white versus black), and duration of diabetes on reduced glutathione content in erythrocytes of diabetic patients.
abstract: We designed this study to examine whether uncontrolled hyperglycemia, duration of diabetes, or race (black v white) have any effect on glutathione levels in erythrocytes of type I diabetic patients. Hyperglycemia was assessed by measuring the level of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Results show that erythrocytes of diabetic patients have a significantly lower glutathione level compared with those of age-matched normal subjects (P < .004). We found a significant negative correlation (r = -.59, P < .001) between the degree of hyperglycemia and the level of reduced glutathione (GSH) in erythrocytes of diabetic patients. There was no significant relationship (r = -.29, P > .12) between the level of GSH in erythrocytes and the duration of diabetes. Erythrocytes of black diabetic patients had significantly lower levels of GSH (P < .05) than those of white diabetic patients. Using erythrocytes as a model, this study suggests that a lower level of GSH may have a role in the cellular damage and impaired insulin secretion in uncontrolled diabetic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Shreveport.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McVie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D044383:Black People; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D005978:Glutathione; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin