Glutathione concentration, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activity in elderly patients with type II diabetes compared to hypertensives

Abstract

Age-related oxidative stress is generated by a combination of increased production of free radicals, decreased antioxidants levels, diminished activity of antioxidant enzymes and impaired repair of oxidative damages. Oxidative stress is associated with many diseases commonly present in elderly such as hypertension and diabetes. In our study we have observed significantly (p<0,01) increased level of reduced glutathione in treated hypertensive compared to treated diabetic patients (3,1± 0,29 mmol/L and 2,72 ± 0,4 mmol/L, respectively) and significantly (p<0,01) increased activity of glutathione reductase (83,43± 15,25 U/g Hb and 65,74 ± 14,27 U/g Hb, respectively).