Serum Levels of Protein Carbonyl and Electrolytes in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a disease characterized by the insufficient insulin in a genetically prepared people, and mostly appeared at young ages. Therefore, T1DM is a chronic metabolic disease, and like other metabolic diseases, it associates with elevated oxidative state. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are metabolites with high reactivity that can cause a diverse destruction to the cellular compartments. Proteins are clear targets for ROS, in which yields oxidized proteins, including protein carbonyls. In the present study, our goal was to determine the oxidative status of T1DM patients by using protein carbonyls as a biomarker. The relationship of protein carbonyl with serum electrolytes (Na+, and K+) were investigated as well. The study was included 60 adolescent with T1DM disease, and 30 healthy adolescent as control. The level of protein carbonyl was elevated significantly in the serum of T1DM patients (24.17±5.93 ng/mL) compared to the control adolescent (12.77±3.11 ng/mL). On the other hand, the levels of both Na and K were reduced in the serum of T1DM patients. The level of oxidative stress was reached the oxidative damage of proteins systemically in these patients. This may results in increasing the health risks of diabetes and may influence the proper growth of these adolescents. No association was observed between protein carbonyl and electrolytes in T1DM patients, but a significant association was obtained between glucose levels and Na levels. We suggest the administration of antioxidants with glycemic control in T1DM patients.