Oxidative stress status of diabetic retinopathy subjects attending usmanu danfodiyo university teaching hospital Sokoto, Nigeria

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a complication of diabetes mellitus resulting from increased oxidative stress which affects the retina. Uncontrolled hyperglycemia leads to increase oxidative stress that is associated with development of DR. The study evaluated the oxidative stress status of diabetic retinopathy subjects. Methods: Serum fasting blood glucose (FBS), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), antioxidants vitamins (A, C, E,), minerals (Manganese, Copper, Zinc and Selenium) and enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) of nine (9) subjects that consist of three (3) apparently healthy individuals serving as control, three(3) newly diagnosed DM and three (3) DR subjects attending Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, Nigeria were evaluated using standard laboratory methods. The DR subjects were recruited based on the result from visual acuity test and funduscopy examination. Results: The results of FBS and HbA1C levels revealed significant (P<0.05) increase in DM and DR subjects compared with control subjects. Serum vitamin A, C, E, Zinc and Selenium and the activities of GPx, SOD and CAT showed significant (P<0.05) decrease among DM and DR subjects compared with the control. Gene expression analysis of supreoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), catalase 1 (CAT1) and glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) revealed up regulation in DM and down regulation in the DR subjects. Conclusion: The results indicated that DM and DR subjects are associated with increased oxidative stress that is associated with decrease activities of antioxidant enzymes and low levels of antioxidants vitamins and minerals.