Clinical usefulness of human serum nonmercaptalbumin to mercaptalbumin ratio as a biomarker for diabetic complications and disability in activities of daily living in elderly patients with diabetes.

Background: Oxidative stress may play an important role in the development of diabetic complications. The ratio of human nonmercaptalbumin (HNA; oxidized form) to human mercaptalbumin (HMA; reduced form) has attracted attention as an indicator for systemic redox states. In this study, we measured the ratio in elderly patients with diabetes and evaluated its association with diabetic complications and disability in activities of daily living (ADL disability).

Serum bilirubin level is a strong predictor for disability in activities in daily living (ADL) in Japanese elderly patients with diabetes.

Elderly patients with diabetes are at increased risk of frailty and disability in activities of daily living (ADL). Recent evidence has shown that oxidative stress is associated with these conditions. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to assess whether serum level of bilirubin, a strong endogenous antioxidant, can predict ADL disability in elderly patients with diabetes.