Diabetes mellitus is considered to be one of a rank of free radical diseases. The existence of hyperglycemia produces increased oxidative stress (OS) via non-enzymatic glycation, glucose autoxidation, and alterations in polyol pathway activity with subsequent influences on the whole organism. In childhood, Type 1 diabetes prevails and is characterized by its autoimmune character with progressive destruction of beta cells and lack of insulin in genetically predisposed patients. Our study focused on diabetic children and their 1st degree relatives and confirmed increased oxidative stress in diabetic children as well as a similar tendency in their siblings. Following this, we carried out a one-year study comprising diabetic children supplemented with vitamins E and C. The vitamin treatment improved diabetes control and reduced markers of oxidative stress substantially when compared with non-supplemented diabetic children. As oxidative stress impairs not only lipids and proteins, but also DNA, we attempted to examine the level of DNA strand breaks as well as DNA repair processes using comet assay modifications. Though children with Type 1 diabetes demonstrated increased oxidative stress (lower SOD and GSH when compared with healthy children), their oxidative DNA damage (measured as DNA strand breaks) were not substantially altered compared with normals. On the other hand, their DNA repair capacity was significantly increased. This demonstrates a stimulated DNA repair process that is most certainly a response to the permanently elevated state of oxidative stress. Owing to the presented results, it is appropriate to ponder the increased influence of oxidative stress on children with Type 1 diabetes and to take into account this fact when considering their treatment.

Department of Pediatrics Charles University Hospital Plzen Alej Svobody 80 304 60 Plzen Czech Republic

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Application of the comet assay method in clinical studies