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Study Title:

Plasma coenzyme Q10 levels in type 2 diabetic patients with retinopathy.

Study Abstract

AIM:

To determine the relationship between proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDRP) and plasma coenzyme Q10(CoQ10) concentration.

METHODS:

Patients with type 2 diabetes and PDRP were determined to be the case group (n=50). The control group was consist of healthy individuals (n=50). Plasma CoQ10 and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in both groups.

RESULTS:

Ubiquinone-10 (Coenzyme Q10) levels in PDRP and control subjects are 3.81±1.19µmol/L and 1.91±0.62µmol/L, respectively. Plasma MDA levels in PDRP and control subjects were 8.16±2µmol/L and 3.44±2.08µmol/L, respectively. Ratio of Ubiquinol-10/ubiquinone-10 in PDRP and control subjects were 0.26±0.16 and 1.41±0.68, respectively.

CONCLUSION:

The ratio of ubiquinol-10/ubiquinone-10 is found lower in patients with PDRP. High levels of plasma ubiquinol-10/ubiquinone-10 ratio indicate the protective effect on diabetic retinopathy.

DISCUSSION:

This study indicated that plasma MDA, as a marker of oxidative stress, was significantly higher in PDRP patients than that in controls. The level of CoQ10, as antioxidant capacity, was significantly lower in PDRP patients than that in controls. PDRP patients are at increased risk of oxidative stress manifested by increased plasma MDA and decreased CoQ10. We deduced that antioxidant supplementation may be used as adjunctive therapy in patients with PDRP to reduce oxidative stress for diabetic complication protection in type 2 DM.

Study Information

Ates O, Bilen H, Keles S, Alp HH, Keleş MS, Yıldırım K, Ondaş O, Pınar LC, Civelekler M, Baykal O.
Plasma coenzyme Q10 levels in type 2 diabetic patients with retinopathy.
Int J Ophthalmol.
2013 October
Department of Ophthalmology, Medical School of Ataturk University, Erzurum 25240, Turkey.