Trace Elements, Magnesium, and the Efficacy of Antioxidant Systems in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and in Their Siblings

Abstract

There may be a correlation between impaired antioxidant status and Mg and Zn deficiency and increased Cu levels in T1DM children. Oxidative stress in T1DM is accompanied by alterations in enzymatic activity and non-enzymatic mechanisms of antioxidant defense. The decreased TAS levels noted in T1DM patients may impair the effectiveness of non-enzymatic antioxidant systems. The increased CAT activity and unimpaired selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-GSHPx) activity point indirectly to enhanced ROS generation in T1DM children. The impaired antioxidant defense found in the siblings of T1DM patients may indicate that genetic factors play a role.