Vojnosanit Pregl
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Reduced systemic antioxidant defence is considerd to play an important mediating role in pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy. The aim of this study was to evaluate if the total antioxidant blood capacity (TAC) is reduced in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and diabetic distal symmetrical polyneuropathy (DDSP) and to correlate this antioxidant capacity with the degree of peripheral nerve dysfunction. ⋯ Total antioxidant blood capacity is reduced in patients with DDSP, but it does not correlate with blood sugar level, with the duration of DM or with the degree of functional nerve damage. These results show a reduced systemic antioxidant defence in patients with type 2 DM and DDSP. However, it is still unclear to what extent the oxidative stress is a contributing factor or leading cause of diabetic neuropathy, suggesting that further studies are necessary.