Study of some antioxidant enzymes and oxidative stress markers in patients with metabolic syndrome in comparison with healthy individuals

Background and Objectives: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is one of the most common diseases and a public health problem in most populations and predisposes to many metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes. Inflammatory processes and oxidative stress are the important factors in pathogenesis of MetS. Also, the effect of sex, race, age, nutrition and life style is very important in incidence of this syndrome. This study was conducted to compare the activity of antioxidant enzymes and some other factors that are involved in oxidative stress in patients with metabolic syndrome.



Materials and Methods: In this study, 37 individuals with metabolic syndrome and 31 healthy controls participated. A blood sample was taken from all subjects and serum and red blood cells were isolated. Glucose, lipid profile, uric acid, malondialdehyde and thiol groups were determined in prepared samples. Antioxidant enzymes containing superoxide dismutase (SOD, gluthatione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (Cat) were also measured in whole blood samples. 



Results: While triglycerides and blood glucose were significantly higher in subjects with metabolic syndrome as compared to control subjects, there was no significant difference for total cholesterol, HDL-Ch and LDL-Ch. A reduction in activities of SOD, GPx and Cat was observed in MetS group as compared to healthy individual (p < strong>=0.02, 0.01 and 0.03, respectively).



Conclusion: The reduction in antioxidant enzymes SOD, GPx and Cat indicate the weakness of antioxidative defense in MetS. These states can predispose for inflammation and other complication of MetS. Using antioxidants or consuming natural products can strength the antioxidant defense and prevent the MetS complications.