Association between dietary fat and antioxidant status of Tunisian type 2 diabetic patients.
BACKGROUND
The antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) provide a defense against the damage of cells by reactive oxygen species, which increased in diabetic state. It was demonstrated that dietary treatment could improve the antioxidant status in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study was undertaken to determine if erythrocyte Cu/Zn SOD and GSH-Px activities correlate with dietary nutrients in 35 selected type 2 diabetic patients (21 women and 14 men) without diabetic complications.


RESULTS
We found that erythrocyte Cu/Zn SOD was diminished in patients with poor controlled diabetes and GSH-Px activity was significantly decreased in obese compared with non-obese type 2 diabetic patients (1.07+/-0.87 and 2.36+/-1.99 U/ml, respectively; P=0.024). Both erythrocyte Cu/Zn SOD and GSH-Px activities were positively correlated to erythrocyte omega3-polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). In non-obese diabetic patients, only GSH-Px activity was correlated negatively to the fraction of linoleic acid (18:2omega6) and arachidonic acid (20:4omega6) in erythrocytes phospholipids.


CONCLUSIONS
The data of this study reveal that activities of erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes were altered in type 2 diabetic patients. Further studies are needed to determine if diet supplemented with omega3-PUFA is required to improve antioxidant defense system in diabetic state.
Laboratory of Biochemistry, UR Nutrition Humaine et désordres métaboliques, Faculty of Medicine, Avicenne Street, Monastir 5019, Tunisia. m_smaoui@yahoo.com
M
M
Smaoui
N
N
Koubaa
S
S
Hammami
N
N
Abid
M
M
Feki
R
R
Chaaba
N
N
Attia
M
M
Abid
M
M
Hammami
D050154:Adiposity / Q000187:drug effects; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D004041:Dietary Fats; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase