Circulating vitamin E, transforming growth factor beta1, and the association with renal disease susceptibility in two racial groups with type 2 diabetes.

Background: End-stage renal disease caused by diabetes disproportionately affects patients of African origin. The biological mechanism(s) for this observation is unclear. Emerging data from cross-sectional studies suggest that increased oxidative stress and the cytokine, transforming growth factor beta(1), are associated with this phenomenon.