Linear Regression Analysis and Correlation Findings in Hemoglobin Oxidation Studies in Diabetics Blood and Normal Blood: The Effects of Amyl Nitrite and Butyl Nitrite

Enhanced susceptibility of amyl nitrite or butyl nitrite induced oxidation of oxyhemoglobin into methemoglobin in the Type 2 diabetics blood compared to normal blood in independent studies was confirmed (P<0.05). For amyl nitrite induced oxidation of hemoglobin a linear regression line was calculated from 40 donors, 20 of whom were diabetics and 20 of whom were normal or non diabetics, using all their HbA1C (%) values and the measured hemoglobin oxidation times. The resultant equation was that of a straight line which is most accurately described by the equation Y = 4.43 - 0.25X where X = percent of HbA1C and Y = hemoglobin oxidation time in minutes. The standard deviation of points around the fitted line was 0.449 and the standard errors of the slope and intercept were 0.0230 and 0.207, respectively. The product moment correlation coefficient (r) was found to be - 0.87. For butyl nitrite induced oxidation of hemoglobin another linear regression line was calculated from all donor HbA1C values and all of the measured hemoglobin oxidation times from another 40 donors, 20 of whom were diabetics and 20 of whom were normal. The resultant equation was that of a straight line which is most accurately described by the equation Y = 7.17 - 0.53X where X = percent of HbA1C and Y = hemoglobin oxidation time in minutes. The standard deviation of points around the fitted line was 1.00 and the standard errors of the slope and intercept were 0.0586 and 0.472, respectively. The product moment correlation coefficient (r) was found to be - 0.83. Thus, based on the fact that both correlation coefficients are less than -0.75 this study demonstrates that there is a very good to excellent inverse relationship between HbA1C percentage and the hemoglobin oxidation time for both amyl nitrite and butyl nitrite. This similar finding could be attributed to the fact that these alkyl nitrites differ only in one methylene molecule. It then follows that both of the aforementioned equations can be used to predict the rate of hemoglobin induced oxidation by amyl nitrite or butyl nitrite based solely upon the HbA1C (%) value. Such equations could then be of good predictive value as to the susceptibility of hemoglobin induced oxidation by either of these alkyl nitrites.