1581 Available online at www.joac.info ISSN: 2278-1862 Journal of Applicable Chemistry 2013, 2 (6): 1581-1588 (International Peer Reviewed Journal) Study Of Malondialdehyde, Reduced Glutathione, And Peroxy Nitrite Levels In Type 2 Diabetics Patients Dhafer A. F. Al-Koofee Dept. of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Kufa University, IRAQ Email: dhafera.faisal@uokufa.edu.iq Received on 13 th October and finalized on 23 rd October 2013 _____________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT The study was conducted to investigate the difference in the serum malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and peroxy nitrate (PN) levels between type 2 (T2DM) diabetes patients and normal subjects. MDA, GSH, and PN levels in sera of 100 patients and 80 participants in the control group were evaluated. A statistically significant difference was found between patients and the control group in terms of MDA, GSH, and PN levels. A decrease in GSH activity was detected (P<0.0001), while MDA and PN levels increased significantly (P<0.0001). The high levels of patients versus control ratio of MDA and PN levels probably suggests the occurrence as a mechanism of tissue damage in cases of T2DM. Moreover, it is recommended that the patient levels of MDA, GSH, and PN should be evaluated in insulin resistance patients. Keywords: Type2 diabetes mellitus, Oxidative stress, Malondialdehyde, Reduced glutathione, Peroxy nitrite. ______________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION Diabetes mellitus is a major worldwide health problem characterized by chronic hyperglycemia [1], predisposing to markedly increased coronary artery, cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular diseases, with up to 80% of deaths in people with diabetes caused by cardiovascular disease [2], and serious morbidity and mortality related to development of nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy [3,4]. Excessive urine production with a compensatory thirst is main signs of diabetes mellitus. There are two major forms of diabetes mellitus, characterized by an absolute and a relative insulin deficiency type 1, and type 2 respectively. Type 2 is the most common form, accounts for 90-95% of all diabetes cases adults aged 20- 79 years, and results from a combination of insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion[5]. Diabetes mellitus is characterized by absolute or relative deficiencies in insulin secretion and/or action associated with chronic hyperglycemia and disturbances of carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism [6]. Changes in human behavior and lifestyle over the last century have resulted in a dramatic increase in the incidence of diabetes worldwide [7, 8]. Type 2 diabetes is rapidly becoming pandemic, and although the origin of this disease is not entirely clear, it is accepted that insulin resistance is important in its pathogenesis and that defects in insulin secretion by pancreatic β-cells lead to hyperglycemia and the onset of diabetes [9, 10]. It is interesting that the proportion of diabetes is higher in women than in men [10]. Type 2 diabetes is