The effect of oxidative stress on human red cells glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase level, and prevalence of anemia among diabetics

Background: The oxidative stress is considered as major consequence of diabetes mellitus affecting red cell antioxidant enzymes

Aim: The present study was conducted to assess the impact of oxidative stress (reduced glutathione) on glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductse and prevalence of anemia among diabetic patients.

Materials and methods: The study involved 100 adult patients attending Buraidah Central Hospital and 30 healthy controls. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for glutathione (GSH) concentration, glutathione peroxidase (GPO), glutathione reductase (GR), fasting blood sugar (RBS), hemoglobin (HGB), red cell count (RBCs) hematocrit (HCT) mean cell volume (MCV) mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) and mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and hemoglobin A1c. Blood urea, serum creatinine, and microalbuminuria were measured to exclude diabetes mellitus nephropathy.

Results: were obtained showed significant correlation between deficiency of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and deficient of glutathione among diabetics, which has significant correlation between low hemoglobin concentration (females <120 g/L, males <130 g/L), also there is low concentration of red cell count and red cell indices (MCV, MCH and MCHC). The prevalence of anemia was 22% in diabetes patients.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that there is strong significant effect of oxidative stress (reduced glutathione) on glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase level these may reduce hemoglobin concentration in diabetic patients. This means oxidative stress of diabetes mellitus is the possible cause of anemia in diabetics without nephropathy.