Plasma malondialdehyde levels and risk factors for the development of chronic complications in type 2 diabetic patients on insulin therapy.

Background: We assessed plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels as a biomarker of lipid peroxidation in type 2 diabetic patients on insulin therapy. Associations among MDA levels and some risk factors for the development of chronic complications of diabetes were also evaluated.

Methods: MDA, fasting glucose, fructosamine, urinary albumin, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, uric acid, serum albumin, lactate, high sensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP), and vitamin E were measured in 53 type 2 diabetic patients and 26 healthy subjects.

Results: MDA levels were higher in type 2 diabetes insulin users (12.8 +/- 3.0 micromol/L) and type 2 diabetes no insulin users (10.3 +/- 2.1 micromol/L) compared to control subjects (8.2 +/- 2.1 micromol/L). Fasting glucose, fructosamine, urinary albumin, and hsCRP were higher in all type 2 diabetic patients compared to controls. Significant correlations were observed between MDA and fasting glucose (r = 0.685, p < 0.001), fructosamine (r = 0.526, p < 0.001), urinary albumin (r = 0.516, p < 0.001), and the duration of type 2 diabetes (r = 0.401, p = 0.005).

Conclusions: MDA levels increased in type 2 diabetes, especially in patients on insulin therapy. Chronic hyperglycemia and other biomarkers, such as urinary albumin, were correlated with MDA levels, suggesting the involvement of lipid peroxidation in the pathogenesis of diabetes complications.