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.
OBJECTIVE
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 <10 years) and in 44 sex-matched controls (comparable for age, smoking habit, diet and physical activity) plasma levels of NOx, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), glucose, uric acid, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides and serum ADMA.


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<0.001).


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.
Pitocco
Dario
D
Diabetologia, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. dario.pitocco@rm.unicatt.it
Zaccardi
Francesco
F
Di Stasio
Enrico
E
Romitelli
Federica
F
Martini
Francesca
F
Scaglione
Giovanni Luca
GL
Speranza
Dorina
D
Santini
Stefano
S
Zuppi
Cecilia
C
Ghirlanda
Giovanni
G
D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
D001120:Arginine; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002784:Cholesterol; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D014527:Uric Acid; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine