Plasma and urine malondialdehyde levels in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients with and without microalbuminuria

Summary Malondialdehyde, a marker of lipid peroxidation, was measured as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance in 78 non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients and 28 healthy subjects. Patients were divided into groups and subgroups according to the presence of microalbuminuria and other complications. Plasma and urine malondialdehyde concentrations were significantly higher in patients with and without microalbuminuria than in controls. In contrast to urine malondialdehyde, plasma malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher in microalbuminuric diabetes than in the nomoalbuminuric diabetic group. There was no correlation between malondialdehyde concentration and glycemic control. This study confirmed the existence of lipid peroxidation disorders in diabetic patients.