Nutritional status and oxidative processes in diabetic and nondiabetic peritoneal dialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to compare the level of malonyldialdehyde (MDA) and carbonyl groups (GC) in diabetic and nondiabetic peritoneal dialysis patients. DESIGN/SETTING: Prospective, observational study on peritoneal dialysis patients in a teaching hospital dialysis unit. PATIENTS: A total of 21 diabetic and 66 nondiabetic patients treated with peritoneal dialysis were examined in the study. Main outcome measures The assessment of nutritional status was determined by clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical methods. The GC content was determined by the 2,4-dinitrophenylohydrazine assay using the Garibaldi method. The MDA was measured using the colorimetric method (LPO-586). RESULTS: The plasma content of the GC and the MDA of peritoneal dialysis patients was significantly higher than in the healthy group (2.0 +/- 1.3 versus 1.3 +/- 0.4 nmol/mg protein and 3.8 +/- 1.4 versus 3.0 +/- 1.2 micromol/L). Moreover, the tendency toward increased levels of MDA and GC in the diabetic group in comparison with the nondiabetic group was noticed. Also, the highest values of GC and MDA were observed in severely malnourished patients. CONCLUSION: The increase in oxidative stress may be related to a degree of malnutrition.