Abstract
Background: Oxidative stress is not only involved in the pathogenesis of many chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus (DM) but also in various physiological processes like aging. In this process, highly reactive free radicals are formed. These free radicals react with lipids and carry out lipid peroxidation, which result in the formation of aldehyde products like malondialdehyde (MDA). The serum level of MDA can serve as an important indicator of oxidative stress. This study helps to assess differences in MDA level as a biomarker of oxidative stress in healthy and type 2 DM (T2DM) patients.

Aims and Objectives: This study aims to investigate the serum MDA level in T2DM patients and its association with other risk factors such as obesity, diet, and duration of diabetes in T2DM patients.

Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in 93 T2DM patients and 93 healthy individuals. Serum levels of MDA are the most commonly used markers of this process which was measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). The MDA-TBA adduct so formed has a colorimetric measurement at 532 nm on spectrophotometer.

Results: The MDA concentrations of healthy controls and T2DM patients were 0.931 and 2.684 μmol/l, respectively. The serum MDA concentration in T2DM patients was significantly elevated (P < 0.001) compared with healthy individuals. MDA levels were significantly correlated (P < 0.001) with conventional risk factors such as diet, truncal obesity, and duration of diabetes in T2DM patients.

Conclusion: Serum level of MDA was significantly increased in T2DM patients. It may be a good marker of oxidative stress that is involved in various complications of T2DM. Elevated MDA levels are also associated with conventional risk factors such as diet, truncal obesity, and duration of diabetes.

Key words: Lipid Peroxidation; Malondialdehyde; Oxidative Stress; Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus