Gender-Specific Association of Oxidative Stress with Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Diabetic Patients of Central Punjab, Pakistan

Background: The present study aims to elucidate the gender-based association of oxidative- stress with cardiovascular risk factors in type II diabetes mellitus in the people of central Punjab, Pakistan. Methods: This study (case-control) was conducted on 200 subjects (100males and 100 females). Males and females; were categorized into control and diabetics. Each individual was subjected to clinical examination with a detailed history and fasting serum was collected to estimate total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high- density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low- density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and oxidative stress markers (superoxide dismutase; SOD, reduced glutathione; GSH, malondialdehyde; MDA, catalase; CAT and nitric oxide; NO). Results: Male diabetics showed increased TC, TG, and LDL –C (P=0.001) with the reduction in HDL-C (p=0.000) compared to non-diabetic male subjects. Similarly, we found a marked increase in TC, TG, LDL-C (p=0.001) with the reduction in HDL-C (p=0.045) in females diabetics compared to non-diabetic female controls. Moreover, female diabetics were found to have augmented levels of TC, LDL-C (p=0.045), and TGs (p=0.001) than male diabetics. In addition to this, low levels of SOD, GSH, CAT, and NO (p= 0.001) in diabetic males and females was observed. However, MDA levels were found to be insignificant when compared with male diabetics with non-diabetic's males. And, the increased MDA (p= 0.001) levels were found when diabetic females compared to non-diabetic females. When diabetic females compared to diabetic males, lower SOD (p=0.001) and GSH (p= 0.05) levels were seen with the increase in MDA levels (p=0.05). However, insignificant CAT and NOS levels were found when compared to diabetic males with diabetic females. Conclusion: It is concluded that women are more likely to develop cardiovascular complications than men and therefore the current study holds the evidence to put forward new insights towards the synthesis of more specific therapeutic targets