Oxidative stress markers in saliva and plasma differ between diet-controlled and insulin-controlled gestational diabetes mellitus

Changes in Oxidative Stress and Intestinal Permeability during Pregnancy in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Treated with Metformin or Insulin and Healthy Controls: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Both oxidative stress and intestinal permeability are increased in hyperglycemic situations and have been shown to be reduced by metformin in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of metformin on oxidative stress and intestinal permeability in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) treated with metformin compared to those treated with insulin and healthy controls. A total of 120 women were included from August 2016 to February 2022: 41 received metformin (MET group), 38 received insulin (INS group), and 41 were healthy controls. Baseline and antenatal visits were carried out at 25.4 ± 4.8 and 36.1 ± 0.8 weeks of pregnancy, respectively. Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and zonulin levels were measured at every visit. Zonulin levels from baseline to prepartum visit increased significantly in both healthy controls (0.6 ± 0.9 to 1.2 ± 1.7 ng/mL, p = 0.004) and the INS group (0.4 ± 0.3 to 0.6 ± 0.5 ng/mL, p = 0.034) but did not significantly change in the MET group (0.4 ± 0.4 to 0.5 ± 0.4 ng/mL, p = 0.202). However, TAC and AOPP levels significantly increased in women with GDM, both in the INS and MET groups but not in the healthy controls. In conclusion, in our population, metformin has been shown to avoid an increase in intestinal permeability but failed to avoid an increase in oxidative stress related to hyperglycemia.

Disrupted Balance of the Oxidant-Antioxidant System in the Pathophysiology of Female Reproduction: Oxidative Stress and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes

The significance of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of male reproductive processes has been closely studied in the last two decades. Recently, it has become clear that oxidative stress can lead to numerous pathological conditions during female reproductive processes as well, contributing to the development of endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome and various forms of infertility. During pregnancy, physiological generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) occurs in association with several developmental processes including oocyte maturation and implantation. An overproduction of ROS can lead to disturbances in fetal development and increases the risk for missed abortion, intrauterine growth restriction, pre-eclampsia, premature delivery and gestational diabetes. Our review focuses on the etiological role of the disrupted oxidant-antioxidant system during human gestation as it relates to adverse pregnancy outcomes.

The Antioxidant Capacity of Breast Milk and Plasma of Women with or without Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Women with gestational diabetes (GD) have reduced antioxidant capacity; however, the relationship between maternal diet, maternal biochemical capacity, breast milk concentration, and infant intake has not been adequately explored in the literature. An exploration of underlying mechanism(s) is warranted, particularly for nutrient antioxidants impacted by maternal intake. These nutrients may provide a means for modifying maternal and infant antioxidant capacity. Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, and beta-carotene concentrations were measured in breast milk of women with and without GD. Plasma, three-day diet records, and breast milk were collected at 6 to 8 weeks postpartum. Student’s t-test was used to compare breast milk ORAC, nutrient antioxidant concentration and plasma ORAC between women with and without GD. Pearson correlations were used to determine associations among antioxidant concentrations in breast milk and dietary antioxidant intake. Breast milk antioxidant concentrations were associated with maternal intake of beta-carotene (r = 0.629, p = 0.005). Breast milk and plasma ORAC and antioxidant vitamin concentrations were not significantly different between GD and NG women. Breast milk ORAC associated with breast milk alpha-tocopherol for NG (r = 0.763, p = 0.010), but not GD women (r = 0.385, p = 0.35), and with breast milk ascorbic acid for GD (r = 0.722, p = 0.043) but not NG women (r = 0.141, p = 0.70; interaction p = 0.041). In GD participants, breast milk ORAC was significantly associated with plasma ORAC (r = 0.780, p = 0.039). ORAC and antioxidant vitamin concentrations in breast milk in women with GD were comparable to women with NG; however, the relationships between breast milk ORAC and vitamin concentrations differed in GD versus NG women for alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid.

Electrochemical biosensors based on saliva electrolytes for rapid detection and diagnosis

In recent years, electrochemical biosensors (ECBSs) have shown significant potential for real-time disease diagnosis and in situ physical condition monitoring. As a multi-constituent oral fluid comprising various disease signaling biomarkers, saliva has drawn much attention in the field of point-of-care (POC) testing. In particular, during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, ECBSs which hold the simplicity of a single-step assay compared with the multi-step assay of traditional testing methods are expected to relieve the human and economic burden caused by the massive and long-term sample testing process. Noteworthily, ECBSs for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva have already been developed and may replace current testing methods. Furthermore, the detection scope has expanded from routine indices such as sugar and uric acid to abnormal biomarkers for early-stage disease detection and drug level monitoring, which further facilitated the evolution of ECBSs in the last 5 years. This review is divided into several main sections. First, we discussed the latest advancements and representative research on ECBSs for saliva testing. Then, we focused on a novel kind of ECBS, organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), which hold great advantages of high sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio and on-site detection. Finally, application of ECBSs with integrated portable platforms in oral cavities, which lead to powerful auxiliary testing means for telemedicine, has also been discussed.

Inflammatory Response in Oral Biofilm during Pregnancy: A Systematic Review

Understanding the inflammatory response in oral biofilm during pregnancy and its association with oral and maternal health is essential for identifying biomarker patterns that may serve as markers of pregnancy-related complications. We aimed to conduct a systematic review of the available literature to assess: (1) inflammatory responses in oral biofilm during pregnancy, (2) the association between inflammatory responses in oral biofilm during pregnancy and maternal, oral or systemic conditions, (3) changes in the response of inflammatory biomarkers found in the oral biofilm during different pregnancy stages, and (4) the value of other risk factors such as nutrition and lifestyle. PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library were systematically searched from inception until April 2022. From 5441 records, 39 studies were included for qualitative assessment. The oral biofilm in pregnant women was associated with increased inflammatory biomarkers when compared to non-pregnant women. Levels of inflammatory biomarkers in the oral biofilm were found to be highest in pregnant women with systemic conditions. Increased inflammatory biomarkers in the oral biofilm were also associated with worse oral health outcomes. Given the importance of nutrition and lifestyle for pregnancy and oral health outcomes and the fact that these factors were largely excluded in the included studies, future research should consider a holistic view of the mother during pregnancy to capture physiological, hormonal, immunologic, and metabolic changes in the context of inflammatory responses.

Markers of Oxidative Stress in Obstetrics and Gynaecology-A Systematic Literature Review

Oxidative stress has been implicated in many diseases, including reproductive and pregnancy disorders, from subfertility to maternal vascular disease or preterm labour. There is, however, discrepancy within the standardized markers of oxidative stress in obstetrics and gynaecology in clinical studies. This review aims to present the scope of markers used between 2012 and 2022 to describe oxidative stress with regard to reproduction, pregnancy, and pregnancy-related issues. Despite the abundance of evidence, there is no consensus on the set of standardised markers of oxidative stress which poses a challenge to achieve universal consensus in order to appropriately triangulate the results.

TRAF2/ASK1/JNK Signaling Pathway Is Involved in the Lung Apoptosis of Swine Induced by Cadmium Exposure

Cadmium (Cd), a toxic heavy metal, exists widely in the environment, which can enter organisms through a variety of ways and cause damage to various organs and tissues. However, the mechanism of lung toxicity in swine after Cd exposure is still unclear. To explore the molecular mechanism of swine lung damage caused by Cd exposure, we established the model of Cd exposure, and Cd chloride (20 mg/kg CdCl₂) was added to the diet of swine for continuous exposure for 40 days. TUNEL staining showed that the apoptosis of swine lung increased significantly after Cd exposure. Meanwhile, the results of qRT-PCR showed that Cd induced oxidative stress and inhibited the expression of antioxidant enzymes including CAT, GCLM, GST, SOD, and GSH-px in lung tissue. Cd exposure activated mitochondrial apoptosis pathway via the TRAF2/ASK1/JNK signaling pathway. In brief, we considered that Cd exposure causes oxidative stress in lung and induces lung cell apoptosis through the TRAF2/ASK1/JNK pathway and increases the expression of HSPs to resist the toxicity of Cd. Our research enriches the theoretical basis of Cd toxicity and provides reference for comparative medicine.

The significance of blood and salivary oxidative stress markers and chemerin in gestational diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a medical complication of pregnancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlations between the salivary and blood levels of oxidative stress markers and an adipokine chemerin, which play a role in the pathogenesis of GDM.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study groups (Control (n = 29), GDM (n = 22)) had been assessed clinically healthy oral hygiene, according to the age range between 25 and 40 years, BMI<30 kg/m2, who were non-smokers and who were not having systemic diseases. GDM was diagnosed using a 100 g OGTT. Saliva samples were collected without stimulation between 08.30 and 10.00 a.m.. Chemerin and TrxR levels were measured by ELISA. Malondialdehyde, sulfhydryl and NO levels were determined by spectrophotometric analysis. Statistical analysis were performed by Shapiro Wilk, Mann Whitney U, Student's t test.

RESULTS

Blood pressure, BMI, and plasma chemerin, salivary chemerin, fasting glucose, LDL, triglyceride, CRP levels in GDM were not different when compared to Control. There were significant differences between Plasma TrxR and HDL levels. Also, significant differences between salivary TrxR and Malondialdehyde levels were observed in GDM.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that the optimal cut-off points for oxidative stress parameters and chemerin level can be used to distinguish between healthy pregnant and GDM.

Saliva 1,5-anhydroglucitol is associated with early-phase insulin secretion in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes

INTRODUCTION

Saliva collection is a non-invasive test and is convenient. 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) is a new indicator reflecting short-term blood glucose levels. This study aimed to explore the relationship between saliva 1,5-AG and insulin secretion function and insulin sensitivity.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Adult patients with type 2 diabetes who were hospitalized were enrolled. Based on blood glucose and C-peptide, homeostasis model assessment 2 for β cell secretion function, C-peptidogenic index (CGI), △2-hour C-peptide (2hCP)/△2-hour postprandial glucose (2hPG), ratio of 0-30 min area under the curve for C-peptide and area under the curve for glucose (AUC_CP30/AUC_PG30), and AUC_2hCP/AUC_2hPG were calculated to evaluate insulin secretion function, while indicators such as homeostasis model assessment 2 for insulin resistance were used to assess insulin sensitivity.

RESULTS

We included 284 subjects (178 men and 106 women) with type 2 diabetes aged 20-70 years. The saliva 1,5-AG level was 0.133 (0.089-0.204) µg/mL. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed a significantly negative correlation between saliva 1,5-AG and 0, 30, and 120 min blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin A_1c, and glycated albumin (all p<0.05), and a significantly positive association between saliva 1,5-AG and CGI (r=0.171, p=0.004) and AUC _CP30 /AUC _PG30 (r=0.174, p=0.003). The above correlations still existed after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, and diabetes duration. In multiple linear regression, saliva 1,5-AG was an independent factor of CGI (standardized β=0.135, p=0.015) and AUC _CP30 /AUC _PG30 (standardized β=0.110, p=0.020).

CONCLUSIONS

Saliva 1,5-AG was related to CGI and AUC_CP30/AUC_PG30 in patients with type 2 diabetes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR-SOC-17011356.

miR‑875‑5p regulates IR and inflammation via targeting TXNRD1 in gestational diabetes rats

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a serious life‑threatening disease that affects the mother and fetus. However, the pathogenesis of GDM is still unclear. microRNAs (miRs) play vital roles in the regulation of various cell functions. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of miR‑875‑5p and thioredoxin reductase 1 cytoplasmic (TXNRD1) in GDM rats and analyze the associated underlying mechanism. A GDM rat model was induced using an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. miR‑875‑5p knockdown plasmids or TXNRD1 knockdown plasmids were injected into the rats via the caudal vein. miR‑875‑5p and TXNRD1 expression in the serum were detected using reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR (RT‑qPCR) or western blot (WB) analyses. The fasting blood‑glucose (FBG), fasting serum insulin, triglyceride and high density lipoprotein levels were detected by specific commercial kits. The inflammatory response and the induction of oxidative stress were analyzed by assessing the expression of associated markers via WB, RT‑qPCR or commercial kits. The pancreatic and placental injuries were detected by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The results indicated that miR‑875‑5p expression levels were downregulated, whereas TXNRD1 levels were upregulated in GDM rats compared with normal pregnancy rats. miR‑875‑5p significantly regulated TXNRD1 expression in GDM rats. miR‑875‑5p silencing notably reduced FBG and insulin resistance, which was accompanied by reduced expression levels of blood lipid and pro‑inflammatory markers as well as reduced oxidative stress. However, the effects of miR‑875‑5p could be reversed by TXNRD1 silencing. Therefore, the present study indicated that miR‑875‑5p regulated IR and inflammation by targeting TXNRD1 in GDM rats. miR‑875‑5p and TXNRD1 may be considered as potential targets for treating GDM.

Antioxidant balance in plasma of patients on home parenteral nutrition: A pilot study comparing three different lipid emulsions

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Parenteral nutrition (PN) can supply all essential nutrients to a patient with gastrointestinal insufficiency. However, the sensitivity to lipid peroxidation might increase in those receiving PN, especially home parenteral nutrition (HPN). This study aimed to investigate whether PN affects the antioxidant balance of plasma of HPN patients without comorbidities and whether this balance is influenced by comorbidities and according to the type of lipid emulsion included in the PN.

METHODS

Adult patients on HPN (n = 86) received one of three types of lipid emulsion (based on 1) soyabean oil, 2) olive and soyabean oil or 3) soyabean, coconut, olive and fish oil) in all-in-one mixtures; in addition healthy controls (n = 66) were studied as comparators. HPN patients were classified to the following subgroups: 1) patients without (n = 58) or with (n = 28) comorbidities 2) patients on Intralipid (G_INTRA, n = 53), ClinOleic (G_CLIN, n = 17) or SMOFlipid (G_SMOFn = 16). The activities of total glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), selenium dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-GSHPx) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in plasma were determined spectrophotometrically. The antioxidant potential of plasma was determined using oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). The lipid peroxidation marker malondialdehyde (MDA) was analyzed with high performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTS

MDA concentration was the highest in G_INTRA and the lowest in G_SMOF (p < 0.05). G_SMOF also had the highest activity of GSH-Px. No differences in Se-GSHPx, GST and ORAC were observed among G_INTRA, G_CLIN and G_SMOF. Comparing with healthy controls, significantly lower GST (p = 0.0293) and ORAC (p < 0.0001) were observed in the HPN patients. Among all measured parameters only the concentration of MDA was significantly higher in patients with comorbidities compared to those without them. Comorbidities did not influence MDA level in G_INTRA and G_SMOF being still the lowest in G_SMOF (p = 0.0033). In contrast, significantly higher MDA level was observed for G_CLIN in those with vs. without comorbidities (p = 0.0262).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients on HPN have lower antioxidant defenses than healthy controls. The type of lipid emulsion used in HPN affects lipid peroxidation (even after taking into account comorbidities which often involve oxidative stress) being the highest in G_INTRA and the lowest in G_SMOF. Thus, to minimize the risk of oxidative stress, SMOFlipid can be considered in patients in HPN especially for those with comorbidities. ClinOleic can be considered in HPN patients without comorbidities. The observation should be confirmed in larger studies.

Salivary Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Stroke Patients: From Basic Research to Clinical Practice

Cerebral stroke is a serious worldwide health problem, as can be seen by the global epidemic of the disease. In this disorder, when the blood flow is compromised by ruptures or blocked arteries, sudden death of neurons is observed as a result of a lack of oxygen and nutrients. Numerous severe problems and frequent complications also exist in stroke patients; therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic, diagnostic, and prognostic methods for the disease. At present, the diagnosis of stroke is based on a neurological examination, medical history, and neuroimaging, due to the fact that rapid and noninvasive diagnostic tests are unavailable. Nevertheless, oxidative stress and inflammation are considered key factors in stroke pathogenesis. Oxygen free radicals are responsible for oxidation of lipids, proteins, and DNA/RNA, which in turn contributes to oxidative damage of the brain. Toxic products of the oxidation reactions act cytostatically on the cell by damaging cell membranes and leading to neuronal death by apoptosis or necrosis. Thus, it seems that redox/inflammatory biomarkers might be used in the diagnosis of the disease. Nowadays, saliva is of increasing interest in clinical laboratory medicine. Redox biomarkers could be obtained easily, noninvasively, cheaply, and stress-free from saliva. This minireview is aimed at presenting the current knowledge concerning the use of salivary biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation in the diagnosis and prognosis of stroke.

Vitamins Modulate the Expression of Antioxidant Genes in Progesterone-Treated Pancreatic β Cells: Perspectives for Gestational Diabetes Management

Gestational diabetes (GD) is a condition defined as carbohydrate intolerance and hyperglycemia beginning in the second trimester of pregnancy, which overlaps with the progesterone exponential increase. Progesterone has been shown to cause pancreatic β-cell death by a mechanism dependent on the generation of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress. Herein, we studied the effect of this hormone on the expression of 84 genes related to oxidative stress and oxidant defense in pancreatic RINm5F cell lineage. Cells were incubated with 0.1, 1.0, or 100 μM progesterone for 6 or 24 h, in the presence or absence of the vitamins E and C. Among the investigated genes, five of them had their expression increased, at least 2-fold, in two different concentrations independently of the time of incubation, or at the same concentration at the different time points, including those that encode for stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (Scd1), dual oxidase 1 (Duox1), glutathione peroxidase 6 (GPx6), heme oxygenase 1 (Hmox1), and heat shock protein a1a (Hspa1a). Vitamins E and C were able to increase, in progesterone-treated cells, the expression of genes with antioxidant function such as Hmox1, but decreased Scd1 expression, a gene with prooxidant function. At cytoplasmic level, progesterone positively modulated Hmox1 and Hspa1a content. These results suggest that the protein encoded by these genes might protect cells against progesterone induced-oxidative damage, opening perspectives to elucidate the molecular mechanism involved in progesterone action in GD, as well as for the development of antioxidant strategies for the prevention and treatment of this disease.

Oxidative Stress Markers Differ in Two Placental Dysfunction Pathologies: Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension and Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Aim

Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are both multisystemic disorders of pregnancy that cause perinatal morbidity and mortality. Recently, researchers focused on the role of oxidative stress (OS) as a pathophysiological mechanism in the development of these pathologies. The aim of this study was to compare OS in placental-related pathologies (PIH and IUGR) and uncomplicated pregnancies. We also investigated which salivary OS markers reflect systemic oxidative status and which only reflect the state of the oral cavity. Material and Methods. A total of 104 pregnant women (n = 104; 27 with PIH, 30 with IUGR, and 47 controls) were evaluated. Malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (ORAC), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), and activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione transferase (GST) in plasma/whole blood and/or saliva were analysed. Dietary nutrient intake was calculated using a Semiquantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (SFFQ). Oral health was assessed to eliminate patients with bleeding, severe periodontitis, and other dental pathologies.

Results

In the IUGR group, increased concentration of ORAC was observed both in saliva and plasma. Also, lower plasma levels of MDA in IUGR compared to the control group was detected. No sign of oxidative stress was confirmed in the PIH group. The examined groups did not differ regarding diet and markers of inflammation. ORAC in saliva was correlated with its level in plasma. No such correlations for MDA were observed. In the IUGR group, there were no differences in OS markers in plasma, but there was a lower ALDH level in the blood compared to the control group. It confirms OS occurrence in IUGR. In IUGR, a higher activity of salivary ALDH was probably due to worse oral health.

Conclusion

Oxidative stress differs between IUGR and PIH groups: the presence of oxidative stress was confirmed only in the IUGR group. Salivary ORAC can be used to estimate ORAC in plasma. The activity of salivary ALDH reflects the state of the oral cavity.

Age and gender characteristics of the biochemical composition of saliva: Correlations with the composition of blood plasma

Background

Recently, the attention of researchers to the study of the properties of human saliva, as a material with unique properties and diagnostic capabilities, has increased.

Research objective

to study the connection of the biochemical composition of saliva and blood plasma in the norm, depending on gender and age.

Methods

107 volunteers took part in the study, including 46 female (37.2 ± 3.9 years old) and 61 male (36.1 ± 2.8 years old). In all samples of saliva and blood plasma, 16 biochemical parameters were determined, including mineral and protein composition, enzyme activity. Non-parametric statistical methods were used to process the data.

Results

It has been shown that it is difficult to establish an unambiguous relation between biochemical parameters of saliva and blood plasma. The calculation of the Spearman correlation coefficients showed that only 7 of the 16 parameters demonstrate the presence of a weak correlation between the content in saliva and plasma.

Conclusion

In general, the determination of the composition of saliva may have an independent diagnostic value; in this case, drawing a parallel with the composition of serum and blood plasma is not advisable. Nevertheless, the use of saliva in clinical laboratory diagnostics is associated with the need to establish criteria for the norm and pathology for each biochemical parameter.

Salivary Redox Biomarkers in Selected Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease, are disorders, which cause irreversible and progressive deterioration of the central nervous system. The pathophysiology of NDDs is still not fully explained; nevertheless, oxidative stress is considered as a critical mediator of cerebral degeneration, brain inflammation, as well as neuronal apoptosis. Therefore, it is not surprising that redox biomarkers are increasingly used in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. As saliva is a very easy to obtain bioliquid, it seems promising to use this biomaterial in the diagnosis of NDDs. Saliva collection is easy, cheap, stress-free, and non-infectious, and it does not require the help of a specialised medical personnel. Additionally, the concentrations of many salivary redox biomarkers correlate with their content in blood serum as well as the degree of disease progression, which makes them non-invasive indicators of NDDs. This paper reviews the latest knowledge concerning the use of salivary redox biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of selected neurodegenerative diseases.

L-Glutamine Supplementation Improves the Benefits of Combined-Exercise Training on Oral Redox Balance and Inflammatory Status in Elderly Individuals

Although regular combined aerobic-resistance exercises can ameliorate the inflammatory status and redox balance in elderly population, it is unclear whether protein or specific amino acid supplementation could improve such benefits. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the inflammatory status and redox indexes through of the saliva of 34 elderly subject nonpractitioners (NP group, 73.3 ± 6.6 years) and 49 elderly subject practitioners of a combined-exercise training in moderate intensity (CET group, 71.9 ± 5.8 years) before (pre) and after (post) 30 days of supplementation with L-glutamine (Gln) or placebo (PL). Our results showed that, both in pre- and postsupplementation, the salivary levels of nitric oxide (NO^·) and TNF-α were lower, whereas the levels of uric acid and IL-10 (as well as IL-10/TNF-α ratio) were higher in the CET groups than in the NP groups. In postsupplementation, both groups supplemented with Gln (NP-Gln and CET-Gln) showed higher salivary uric acid levels compared to baseline. In addition, lower NO^· levels were found in the CET-Gln group postsupplementation than presupplementation values. Whereas the CET-Gln group showed lower GSH levels postsupplementation, NP-Gln subjects showed lower GSSG levels at the same time point, both compared to baseline. Interestingly, salivary peroxidase activity was lower only in NP groups (NP-PL and NP-Gln) postsupplementation than baseline values. A positive significant correlation between salivary peroxidase activity and GSH levels, and also between salivary peroxidase activity and uric acid levels were observed in the CET-Gln group both pre- and postsupplementation. No differences were found in albumin, total antioxidant activity (TEAC), and reducing power analysis between groups, pre- or postsupplementation. In conclusion, the elderly subjects from the CET group showed a better inflammatory response and redox balance and, for the first time, it was shown that daily supplementation with Gln for 30 days can improve these benefits with putative association with a healthy aging.

Maternal serum nitrotyrosine, 8-isoprostane and total antioxidant capacity levels in pre-gestational or gestational diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate serum concentration of 8-isoprostane, nitrotyrosine (NT), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in pregnant women with diabetes mellitus (DM) considering preconception planning and method of diabetes correction in 11-14 and 30-34 weeks.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 130 women: T1DM (n = 40), T2DM (n = 35), gestational diabetes (GDM, n = 40) and the control group (n = 15). The serum concentrations of NT, 8-isoprostane, and TAC were measured by ELISA methods.

RESULTS

Elevated 8-isoprostane levels were observed in all patients with DM, but this biomarker's maximum values have been seen in T1DM and T2DM on insulin groups. A similar tendency was observed for the concentration of NT in both the 1st and 3rd trimesters. TAC levels showed a statistically relevant decrease in all DM groups compared to the control. The correlation analysis showed a direct correlation between HbA1c and serum 8-isoprostane levels in the 1st (r = .27) and 3rd (r = .3) pregnancy trimesters as well as inverse correlation with TAC level (r = -.48). Direct (NT, 8-isoprostane) and inverse correlations (TAC) were fixated for this biomarker concentration and preeclampsia rates.

CONCLUSION

DM in pregnancy is related to oxidative stress activation, which might lead to the development of adverse perinatal outcomes.