Antioxidant capacity of G-6-PD-deficient erythrocytes.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency is the most common human enzymopathy. In this research, we studied two groups consisting of 30 male subjects who are G-6-PD deficient and 30 normal male subjects matched with the G-6-PD-deficient patients for age. All 30 assays were performed under normal conditions free of any oxidative attack that may result in haemolytic crisis in G-6-PD-deficient subjects. The erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities, reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and erythrocyte and plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) levels were measured. All parameters in each group did not differ significantly except for G-6-PD levels. These data show that G-6-PD-deficient subjects can survive in normal conditions unless they are exposed to any oxidative stress.