Oxidative Stress in Children and Adolescents with Diabetic Nephropathy

Abstract Background The pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN) involves multiple factors, and the exact mechanisms remain uncertain. Thus, the aim of the current study is to assess the oxidant/ antioxidant status among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes(T1D) and diabetic nephropathy (DN). Methods A comparative cross-sectional study including 100 patients with T1D; equally divided into 2 groups according to urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER). Both groups of T1D were compared with age and gender matched healthy controls. To assess oxidant/ antioxidant status, malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were assessed using colorimetric method. Results The MDA levels were significantly higher in patients with DN (9.24 nmol/ml) compared with patients with normoalbuminuria (1.99 nmol/ml) and healthy controls (0.78 nmol/ml) (P < 0.001). Unlike MDA, TAC levels were significantly lower in patients with T1D compared to healthy subjects. Among participants with T1D, TAC levels were significantly higher among patients with DN (P < 0.001). A significant negative correlation was found between MDA and TAC levels (r=-0.655, P < 0.01). Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was elicited between MDA and both HbA1C (r = 0.5, P < 0.001) and UAER (r = 0.7, P < 0.001). Conclusion T1D is associated with heightened levels of oxidative stress compared to those without the condition, with higher level of oxidant/antioxidant imbalance in DN. This suggests that oxidative stress could potentially serve as a significant factor in the development DN.