Serum haematological and biochemical indices of oxidative stress and their relationship with DNA damage and homocysteine in Pakistani type II diabetic patients.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a heterogeneous metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia, higher glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) as well as protein. Oxidative stress can cause damage to leukocytic DNA and enhancement of homocysteine (Hcy) level in sera of type 2 diabetic patients. Haematological and biochemical parameters are severely affected by oxidative stress, which results in damages to DNA and Hcy in these patients. Eighty DM patients and 80 normal subjects, after having their consent, were selected for the present study. Leukocytes were characterized for DNA damage by comet assay kit while, blood plasma was taken into account for biochemical indices using commercial test kits. Results indicated that DNA damage was strongly linked with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (P<0.01), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) (P<0.0001), glycated serum protein (P<0.005), cholesterol (P<0.011), triglycerides (P<0.001), albumin (P<0.001), creatinine (P<0.006), urea (P<0.007) and ALT (P<0.02), and negatively associated with packed cell volume (PCV) (P<0.002) and hemoglobin (P<0.001). Homocysteine was strongly linked with ESR, HbA1C, glycated protein (P<0.002), cholesterol (P<0.016), triglycerides (P<0.0001), albumin, creatinine, urea, ALT and AST in diabetic patients. Hyc and DNA damages both were negatively linked with total hemoglobin and PCV. Both of these even in their normal range may have a role in the endothelium damage. Nutritional intervention to lower down Hyc and DNA damages in the Pakistani population may mitigate their effect and guarantee in maintenance of a healthy nation.