April 2009
Volume 50, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   April 2009
Oxidative Stress and Total Anti-Oxidant Capacity (orac) in Diabetic Patients: Preliminary Report
C. Varesi; D. Di Pierro; A. Feraco; A. Spanò; C. Nucci; R. Mancino
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • C. Varesi
    Ophthalmology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Lanuvio, Rome, Italy
  • D. Di Pierro
    Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences,
    University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
  • A. Feraco
    Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences,
    University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
  • A. Spanò
    Ophthalmology,
    University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
  • C. Nucci
    Ophthalmology,
    University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
  • R. Mancino
    Ophthalmology,
    University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  C. Varesi, None; D. Di Pierro, None; A. Feraco, None; A. Spanò, None; C. Nucci, None; R. Mancino, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  None.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science April 2009, Vol.50, 4995. doi:
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      C. Varesi, D. Di Pierro, A. Feraco, A. Spanò, C. Nucci, R. Mancino; Oxidative Stress and Total Anti-Oxidant Capacity (orac) in Diabetic Patients: Preliminary Report. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2009;50(13):4995.

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Abstract

Purpose: : To analyze the level of Malondialdehyde (MDA), an oxidative stress parameter, and the total antioxidant capacity in the blood, aqueous humor, and vitreous body of diabetic patients.

Methods: : Eight patients, aged 60-84 years, with diabetic proliferative retinopathy and eight age-matched patients without diabetes were included in the study. Blood, aqueous humor, and vitreous body samples of all participants were collected during cataract and vitrectomy surgery. MDA concentrations and blood energy charge potential (ECP) were measured by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The total antioxidant capacity of the samples was assessed by the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) method (see Cao G. Methods enzimol.1999)The values of MDA, ECP and the total antioxidant capacity of the blood, aqueous humor, and vitreous body of diabetic and non-diabetic groups.

Results: : The MDA values are significantly higher in diabetic patients than in the control group: blood plasma (100.0 ± 62.6 vs. 1527.5 ± 979.8, p < 0.001); aqueous humor (52.0 ± 22.8 vs. 119.5 ± 8.2, p < 0.001); and vitreous body (57.3 ± 12.7 vs. 570.0 ± 336.1, p < 0.001). The blood ECP value is significantly lower (p = 0.007) in the diabetic group (0.88 ± 0.02) than in control group (0.81 ± 0.06). The total antioxidant capacity is significantly lower only in the vitreous body of diabetic patients (1.85 ± 0.84 vs. 0.51 ± 0.45 in control group, p = 0.040), whereas is not statistically different in either the blood plasma (diabetic group: 3.52 ± 0.73; control group: 3.05 ± 0.44, p = 0.128), and aqueous humor (diabetic group: 1.14 ± 0.55; control group: 0.90 ± 0.05, p = 0.419).

Conclusions: : Our study confirms that diabetes is associated with an oxidative stress at the level of blood plasma, aqueous humor and vitreous body, as suggested by the observed increase in the levels of MDA. The data that the total antioxidant capacity of diabetic patients is reduced in the vitreous might strength the hypothesis of an involvement of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinal complications.

Keywords: oxidation/oxidative or free radical damage • diabetic retinopathy • vitreous 
© 2009, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved. Permission to republish any abstract or part of an abstract in any form must be obtained in writing from the ARVO Office prior to publication.
Copyright © 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
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