NONENZYMIC ANTIOXIDANTS STATUS AND LIPID PEROXIDATION IN KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS PATIENTS

Background:  Reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated biomolecular deterioration including lipid peroxidation is generally believed to be a significant factor in the development of knee osteoarthritis (OA) and its consequent sequelae. Although limited information is available about the knee OA disease pathophysiology in relation with oxidative stress, there is a pausity of satisfactory explanation regarding the alteration in the level of nonenzymic antioxidants and lipid peroxidation with severity of  knee OA  Aim: Therefore, the overall objective of present study was to estimate the levels of nonenzymic antioxidants and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the knee OA patients of different KL grade and to determine the variation in their levels with disease severity. Methods: In the present study, nonenzymic antioxidants (ascorbic acid, vitamin E and uric acid) and malondialdehyde levels were measured in 120 knee OA patients (40-60 years) by using standard methods. Knee OA patients were categorized into three groups (n=40 in each group; on the basis of KL grading scale) and statistically compared it with that of 40 healthy controls by using student’s t-test. Result: Serum vitamin C and vitamin E levels were significantly low in Group II (P<0.05) and Group III (P<0.001) subjects as compared to healthy controls whereas Serum uric acid level was increased significantly only in Group II (P<0.05) and Group III (P<0.001) subjects. Similarly, serum MDA level was increased significantly in Group II (P<0.05) and Group III (P<0.001) subjects as compared to healthy controls. Study group parameters were altered insignificantly in Group I subjects (P<0.1). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that alteration in nonenzymic antioxidants and increased production of MDA are excellent marker of oxidative stress in different grades of knee OA patients. Thus, the diet rich in antioxidant or antioxidant supplementation could be beneficial in delaying the progressive destruction of articular cartilage process and thereby serve as a preventive strategy in field of knee OA management.