[Effects of tanakan on blood lipid peroxidation and platelet aggregation properties in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus].

AIM: To elucidate tanakan effects on lipid peroxidation (LPO) products in blood serum, red cell and platelet membranes of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) with and without vascular complications.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Twenty-seven diabetics and 15 donors were examined. Platelet aggregation, malonic dialdehyde (MDA), hemoglobin (including glycosylated), blood total cholesterol and lipoproteins were measured routinely.

RESULTS

Elevated levels of malonic dialdehyde (MDA) in the serum and red cell membrane in IDDM patients diminished in response to 6-week treatment with tanakan. Basal and induced MDA in platelets reduced, more noticeably in patients without angiopathy. Platelets resumed sensitivity to low-dose ristomycin. A 6-week course of tanakan failed to normalize platelet function completely. Moreover, platelets sensitivity to some inductors (ADP, adrenalin) enhanced, more noticeable in patients without angiopathy.

CONCLUSION

Tanakan in IDDM shows properties of an effective antioxidant and return to normal LPO products level both in blood serum and red cell membrane. This eradicates a damaging action of free radical products in blood cells and endothelium. It is suggested that for normalization of platelet aggregation in IDDM a longer tanakan course is required or combined use of tanakan with other antithrombotic medicines of different mechanism of action may be effective.