Estimation of plasma glutathione levels in NIDDM patients with and without cardiovascular disease

The tripeptide glutathione is proposed to be protective against a number of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease and cancer. However, there have been few studies of plasma glutathione levels in humans and in those studies the numbers of participants have been very small. In an exploratory analysis the determinants of plasma total glutathione (GSHt) were investigated in a group of 100 volunteers aged 18–61 years in Atlanta, Georgia, USA during June and July 1989. Data on demographic and health-related factors were collected by interview and plasma GSHt was measured using a recently modified laboratory method. The mean concentration of plasma GSHt for all 100 participants was 761 μg/l, with a standard deviation of 451 μg/l, a range of 86–2889 μg/1 and a median of 649 μg/l. Men had significantly higher levels of plasma GSHt than women (924 v. 692 μg/l; P = 0·006). Seventh-day Adventists participating in the present study had higher plasma GSHt levels than other subgroups defined by race and/or religion. Among Seventh-day Adventists consumption of a vegetarian diet was associated with increased plasma GSHt concentration (P = 0·002). Plasma GSHt levels also appeared to vary by race, but relationships with race could not be clearly disassociated from relationships with religion. Among white participants plasma GSHt concentration decreased with age in women but increased with age in men (P = 0·05). Few other factors were associated with plasma GSHt concentration, although use of oral contraceptives (P = 0·10) was somewhat associated with decreased plasma GSHt levels. These findings suggest that plasma GSHt levels may vary with several demographic and health-related attributes and support the need for further research on this potentially important disease-preventive compound.

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Sulphonylurea treatment of NIDDM patients with cardiovascular disease: a mixed blessing?

Diabetologia ◽

10.1007/bf00403296 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 39 (5) ◽

pp. 503-514 ◽

Cited By ~ 61

Author(s):

G. Leibowitz ◽

E. Cerasi

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Sulphonylurea Treatment ◽

Mixed Blessing ◽

Niddm Patients

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The Effect of Microalbuminuria on Glycaemic Control, Serum Lipids and Haemostasis Parameters in Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry International Journal of Laboratory Medicine ◽

10.1177/000456329303000504 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 30 (5) ◽

pp. 439-444 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

S H J Donders ◽

F A T Lustermans ◽

J W J van Wersch

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Glycaemic Control ◽

Blood Lipids ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Insulin Dependent Diabetes ◽

Dependent Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Insulin Dependent ◽

Niddm Patients

Microalbuminuria is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients although the pathogenic mechanism between microalbuminuria and cardiovascular disease has not yet been established. Microalbuminuria in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients has been related to abnormalities in haemostasis, poor glycaemic control, disadvantageous alterations in the lipid spectrum and elevated concentrations of lipoprotein(a), another independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In this study the interrelations between microalbuminuria and metabolic control, lipoprotein(a), other blood lipids and several haemostasis parameters were studied in 96 NIDDM patients (50 women, 46 men). Forty-three patients showed microalbuminuria. No significant differences were found in blood lipids (Lp(a), serum cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides), glycaemic control (HbA1c) and several haemostasis parameters (factor VII, VIII, fibrin monomer, thrombin-antithrombin III, D-dimer, tissue plasminogen activator antigen and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1) between the micro- and normoalbuminuric subgroups. In the microalbuminuric subgroup increased concentrations for plasminogen and α2-antiplasmin were measured. In general, the presence of microalbuminuria was not associated with significant alterations in glycaemic control, blood lipids or haemostasis parameters in this group of 96 NIDDM patients. Further investigation is required to explain the excess cardiovascular mortality in patients with an elevated urinary albumin excretion rate.

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