Erythrocytic Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase
Activity in Diabetic Patients

Homaira Rashidi¹, Maryam Shafiei², Reza Hamidian³

ABSTRACT

Background and objectives: Diabetes mellitus is a common and complicated disease. Studies imply blood glucose and its oxidant derivatives have a key role in pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. Activity of enzyme "glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase" (G6PD), an anti-oxidant system, is important in preventing its complications. Unsuitable control of blood glucose decreases G6PD activity and increases diabetes mellitus complications. This study evaluated the difference of G6PD activity among diabetic and non diabetic patients, and the impact of hyperglycemia on the G6PD activity.

Methodology: One hundred diabetic and one hundred non diabetic subjects were selected from patients 30 to 60 years old. Demographic data including gender, age, height, weight, duration of diabetes mellitus, type and duration of treatment, medical history (especially favism) were recorded. Blood pressure and body mass index were also measured. One blood sample was taken from each subject and 5 elements including G6PD presence and activity, fasting plasma glucose, plasma triglyceride and plasma high density lipoprotein were measured.

Results: G6PD activity was significantly higher in non diabetic subjects (P<0.01). Within diabetics, G6PD mean activity was significantly higher in non dyslipidemic group (P<0.05) and in subjects with BMI < 25 (P<0.05). G6PD mean activity was significantly higher in non diabetics than dyslipidemic (P<0.01) and non dyslipidemic diabetics (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Diabetic hyperglycemia may lead to serious complications and decrease G6PD activity. This issue itself aggravates diabetic injury due to inappropriate antioxidation process. Simultaneous dyslipidemia and obesity may intensify the effect of hyperglycemia and oxidative stress.

KEYWORDS: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, Diabetes mellitus.

Pak J Med Sci    July - September 2009    Vol. 25 No. 4    665-668

How to cite this article:

Rashidi H, Shafiei M, Hamidian R. Erythrocytic Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Activity in Diabetic Patients. Pak J Med Sci 2009;25(4):665-668.

---

1. Homaira Rashidi, MD,
Assistant Prof. of Endocrinology,
Diabetes Research Center,
Jondishapour University, Ahvaz, Iran
2. Maryam Shafiei, MD,
3. Reza Hamidian, MD,
2,3: Researcher, Tehran University of Medical Sciences,
Tehran, Iran.

Correspondence

Homaira Rashidi
P.O. Box: 13185-1678, Tehran, Iran.
Email: swt_f@yahoo.com

* Received for Publication: May 23, 2008
* Revision Received: May 26, 2009
* Revision Accepted: June 28, 2009

---

HOME   |   SEARCH   |   CURRENT ISSUE   |   PAST ISSUES

Professional Medical Publications
Room No. 522, 5th Floor, Panorama Centre
Building No. 2, P.O. Box 8766, Saddar, Karachi - Pakistan.
Phones : 5688791, 5689285 Fax : 5689860
pjms@