An examination of DNA strand breakage in the comet assay and antioxidant capacity in diabetic patients.

There are two forms of diabetes, insulin-dependent Diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and non-insulin dependent Diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). There is evidence to suggest that reactive oxygen is involved in the pathogenicity and complications arising from IDDM, but there is little to suggest a role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of NIDDM. In order to investigate this hypothesis further, peripheral blood samples were taken from control individuals and IDDM and NIDDM patients and examined for antioxidant capacity and in the Comet assay for DNA strand breakage. The individuals answered a questionnaire to provide information relating to lifestyle factors in case such factors might have a confounding effect. There were 20 controls, 22 IDDM patients and 23 NIDDM patients. No differences could be detected in control and diabetic patient groups in terms of creatinine levels and antioxidant capacity. DNA damage in the Comet assay was at a lower level than in the control in the IDDM patients and a slightly lower level in the NIDDM patients, which might indicate that these cells are handling more oxidative damage on a regular basis. As expected, there were differences in glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA(1C)) levels. The confounding factors (smoking, drinking and vitamin intakes, etc.) appeared to have no effect.