ESPE Abstracts

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) has been described to be associated with altered oxidative status. Combined analysis of pro-oxidative and anti-oxidative mechanisms in youngsters with T1DM has been less studied.

Objective and hypotheses: To evaluate pro-oxidative/anti-oxidative status in T1DM youngsters and healthy controls and investigate their possible association with glycemic control.

Method: Sixty-three children and adolescents with T1DM and 20 healthy controls of similar age (13.4±2.5 vs 12.5±2.3 years, P=0.169) and gender (T1DM boys 37/63 (58.7%) vs healthy boys 13/20 (65.0%), P=0.813) were included. Anthropometric measurements as well as an estimate of pro-oxidative/anti-oxidative balance (PAB), expressed as an hydrogen peroxide percentage and multiplied by 6, were determined. Questionnaires regarding dietetic habits and physical activity were also filled.

Results: T1DM participants as compared with controls had higher PAB (213.1±79.8 vs 155.0±43.8%, P<0.001) but similar BMI (20.6±3.6 vs 21.7±4.5 kg/m², P=0.281) and physical activity score (PAS) (6.5±1.5 vs 6.1±1.9%, P=0.286). No differences were detected in PAB levels between T1DM patients with HbA1c levels above 7.5 as compared with those of below 7.5 (224.0±85.3 vs 202.5±74.0%, P=0.29). Serum PAB levels were significantly correlated (negatively) with age (r=−0.361, P=0.001) but not with HbA1c (r=108, P=0.40). A tendency towards higher levels of PAB was also observed with higher BMI levels or PAS (r=−0.192, P=0.083, r=−0.185, P=0.094 respectively). In a multivariate analysis (overall model: r²=0.227, P=0.01), only age and physical activity were found to be independently associated with PAB levels (b=0.358, P=0.011, b=−0.271, P=0.041 respectively) in contrast to HbA1c and diabetes duration (b=0.158, P=0.207, b=0.873, P=0.041 respectively).

Conclusion: Imbalanced pro-oxidative/anti-oxidative state exists in T1DM youngsters independent of diabetes control. This may predispose and contribute at least partially to the early development of long-term complications.