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Oxidative Stress Linked to Cataract Formation in Diabetics

Lens concentrations of glutathione and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances correlate with cataract formation in patients with diabetes.

Researchers from the Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty at Istanbul University, in Turkey, enrolled 46 patients with cataracts as well as a control group made up of 10 female and 10 male nonsmokers without cataracts, lens opacity or vacuoles.

Whole blood glutathione levels and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activities were lower, while plasma levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were higher in patients with cataracts compared to controls.

Patients with diabetic cataracts showed lower whole blood glutathione levels and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity than those with senile cataracts. Patients with diabetic cataracts also showed lower levels of glutathione reductase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in red blood cells.

The researchers also found that patients with senile cataracts had lower glutathione reductase activity and levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances compared to those with diabetic cataracts. Levels of glutathione were also higher in the lens of patients with senile compared to diabetic cataracts.

The authors conclude that the concentrations of glutathione and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the lens correlated with cataract formation in patients with diabetes. The authors suggest that their findings underscore the vital role of glutathione as a lens antioxidant.
Curr Eye Res 2002;25:9-16. "Blood and lens lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in normal individuals, senile and diabetic cataractous patients."

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