Oxidative stress markers in plasma and urine of prepubertal patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Markers of oxidative stress were studied in plasma and urine of prepubertal patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) with less than 5 years of disease (n = 27). The results were compared to healthy, age- and sex-matched control children (n = 27). Oxidative stress parameters evaluated included advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), total peroxyl radical-trapping antioxidant parameter (TRAP), and F2-isoprostanes (8-epi-prostaglandin-F2: 8-isoPGF2alpha). No statistically significant differences were found for any of the oxidative stress markers assessed between patients with DM1 and controls. In addition, weight, height, and routine metabolic tests, including creatininemia and cholesterol levels, were similar between the groups. The lack of significant differences between healthy controls and patients with DM1 suggests that treatment is able to counteract the increase in free radical production.