Objectives: Evaluation of serum MDA, α-tocopherol and β-carotene in patients having diabetes mellitus (DM), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG).

Materials and Methods: Ninety-nine patients, who were detected to have DM, IGT or IFG at their admission to Zonguldak Karaelmas University Hospital, Family Medicine or Internal Medicine outpatient clinics, and 37 healthy controls were included in the study. MDA, α-tocopherol and bcarotene levels were studied in the serum samples of all patients and controls.

Results: While MDA level in DM group was significantly higher than the IGT, IFG and control groups, α-tocopherol level in DM group was lower than the control group and β-carotene level was lower than IGT, IFG and control groups. While MDA level in IGT group was significantly higher than the IFG and control groups, α-tocopherol level in IGT group was lower than the control group and β-carotene level was lower than IFG and control groups. There was no significant difference of any of the three parameters between IFG and control groups

Conclusion: While lipid peroxidation increases, α-tocopherol and β-carotene levels decrease in the diseases with hyperglycemia, except IFG ©2005, Fırat Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi