Brief Communication: Plasma lipid oxidation predicts atherosclerotic status better than cholesterol in diabetic apolipoprotein E deficient mice.

Increased levels of oxidative stress have been suggested to play a detrimental role in the development of diabetes-related vascular complications. Here, we investigated whether the concentration of malondialdehyde, a marker of lipid oxidation correlated to the degree of aortic plaque lesions in a proatherogenic diabetic mouse model. Three groups of apolipoprotein E knockout mice were studied for 20 weeks, a control, a streptozotocin-induced diabetic, and a diabetic enalapril-treated group. Enalapril was hypothesized to lower oxidative stress level and thus the plaque burden. Both diabetic groups were significantly different from the control group as they had higher blood glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein, together with a lower high-density lipoprotein concentration and body weight. Animals in the diabetic group had significantly higher plaque area and plasma malondialdehyde than controls. The two diabetic groups did not differ significantly in any measured characteristic. In summary, there was a positive correlation between plasma malondialdehyde concentration and aorta plaque area in apolipoprotein E knockout. Even though further investigation of the role of lipid oxidation in the development of atherosclerosis is warranted, these results suggest that biomarkers of lipid oxidation may be of value in the evaluation of cardiovascular risk.

Does Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Ameliorate Oxidative Stress in Diabetes? Evidence Based on Experimental and Clinical Studies.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has shown to influence the oxidative stress status in a number of in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies. Well-known effects of GLP-1 including better glycemic control, decreased food intake, increased insulin release and increased insulin sensitivity may indirectly contribute to this phenomenon, but glucose-independent effects on ROS level, production and antioxidant capacity have been suggested to also play a role. The potential 'antioxidant' activity of GLP-1 along with other proposed glucose-independent modes of action related to ameliorating redox imbalance remains a controversial topic but could hold a therapeutic potential against micro- and macrovascular diabetic complications. This review discusses the presently available knowledge from experimental and clinical studies on the effects of GLP-1 on oxidative stress in diabetes and diabetes-related complications.