Increased levels of malondialdehyde in urine and plasma from diabetic patients and smokers: evidence for free radical damage - abstract

ABSTRACT

Malondialdehyde [MDA] is a major end product of lipid peroxidation which causes tissue damage and its presence is often used as an indicator for free radical damage in tissues. MDA was therefore measured in the urine and plasma of 15 non-insulin dependent diabetics (NIDDM) between the ages of 33 and 67 (mean 52) years, 10 chronic smokers 29 - 33 years old and control group of 14 healthy individuals 17 to52 years old. The average age of both the normal controls and smokers was 32 years with an average Body Metabolic Index (BMI) of 24 in both groups and 26 in the diabetic group. (A table showing mean + SEM values for urinary and plasma malondialdehyde is shown in abstract). We conclude that diabetics and smokers have significantly (p<0.008) higher levels of urinary MDA than the controls. Plasma MDA levels were only significantly higher for the diabetic group. When corrected for muscle mass and BMI, urinary MDA levels for the two test groups were sigificantly (p<0.001) higher than normal. There was a good correlation between urinary MDA and plasma MDA (r=0.74), p<0.001, df= 21. These data suggest (1) NIDM and smokers have increased exposure to free radical damage (2) urinary MDA provides a good indicator of lipid peroxidation. (AU)