Published online May 15, 2020. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v11.i5.193
Peer-review started: January 1, 2020
First decision: January 15, 2020
Revised: March 24, 2020
Accepted: March 28, 2020
Article in press: March 28, 2020
Published online: May 15, 2020
Processing time: 130 Days and 20.5 Hours
Oxidative stress is a key player in health and disease, and its particular involvement in the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disorders, neurodegeneration and cancer have attracted much attention from the scientific community in recent years.
The motivation for our research was to contribute to the study of oxidative stress involvement in obesity, diabetes and their co-occurrence (diabesity), and to improve the current knowledge regarding the development of these public health problems.
The main objectives of this study were to evaluate oxidative stress levels in obesity, diabetes and diabesity using the free oxygen radical test (FORT) and the free oxygen radical defence (FORD) tests. In addition, we investigated whether FORT and (or) FORD values correlated with anthropometric and laboratory parameters.
Oxidative stress was evaluated from a single drop of capillary blood using the CR3000 analyser by two colorimetric assays: The free oxygen radical test (FORT) and the free oxygen radical defence (FORD) assays. Demographic, clinical and biochemical parameters were assessed by standard methods.
FORT levels were higher in obese subjects vs healthy controls and correlated positively with body mass index, waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol and uric acid. FORD levels were lower in obese subjects vs healthy controls and correlated negatively with body mass index, waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol and uric acid. Patients with diabesity had higher FORT values vs non-diabetic counterparts. In these subjects, FORT levels correlated positively with body mass index and total cholesterol, and FORD levels was negatively associated with body mass index and total cholesterol.
Oxidative stress levels are increased in obese subjects. In patients with diabesity, reactive oxygen species are elevated vs obese non-diabetic subjects and controls.
Further studies are needed to clarify the role of oxidative stress in obesity, diabetes and diabesity, and to transpose these results from bench to bedside. The value of antioxidants in the management of these public health problems needs further clarification.