Role of asymmetric-dimethyl-l-arginine (ADMA) and nitrite/nitrate (NOx) in the pathogenesis of oxidative stress in female subjects with uncomplicated type 1 diabetes mellitus

AimsTo explore the role of asymmetric-dimethyl-l-arginine (ADMA), an endogenous nitric oxide synthetases (NOS) inhibitor, and nitrite/nitrate (NOx) in the pathogenesis of oxidative stress in early stages of type 1 diabetes mellitus.MethodsWe measured in 99 female subjects with uncomplicated type 1 diabetes (duration disease <10 years) and in 44 sex-matched controls (comparable for age, smoking habit, diet and physical activity) plasma levels of NOx, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), glucose, uric acid, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides and serum ADMA.ResultsType 1 diabetic subjects have higher levels of glycemia, HbA1c, LDL cholesterol and NOx, but lower ADMA and serum uric acid (UA), compared with the control group; no further differences were found. A significant linear and inverse correlation was found between NOx and ADMA levels (R2 = 0.237, p < 0.001).ConclusionsThis study suggests a reduced ADMA inhibition of NOS as possible mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of oxidative stress in female subjects with a short duration and uncomplicated type 1 diabetes.