Leptin concentration and oxidative stress in diabetic ketoacidosis.

Abstract

Diabetes is a common metabolic state during ageing, and one in five elderly individuals suffers from diabetes. However, few studies have been performed in elderly diabetic patients, and large randomized clinical trials in this population are rare. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in serum leptin levels in elderly patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) before and after treatment and assess its relationship with oxidative stress parameters. Serum leptin levels, plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and plasma 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α ) levels were measured in elderly patients aged 81.76 ± 9.42 years with DKA before and after treatment. Plasma SOD activity, TAC and serum leptins before treatment were significantly lower in elderly patients with DKA compared with the control group (P < 0.05), whereas plasma MDA and 8-iso-PGF2α levels before treatment were significantly higher in elderly patients with DKA (P < 0.05). Plasma SOD activity, TAC and serum leptin levels in elderly patients with DKA were significantly elevated after treatment, whereas their plasma MDA and 8-iso-PGF2α levels were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Leptin levels negatively correlated with plasma 8-iso-PGF2α after treatment in elderly DKA patients (r = -0.36, P < 0.05). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that 8-iso-PGF2α was a significant factor affecting serum leptin levels. Serum leptin levels in the elderly patients with DKA were significantly reduced after treatment, which was associated with oxidative stress.