Evaluation of Reduced Glutathione Plasma Level in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Fatty Liver

Abstract

ype 2 diabetes (T2DM) and its complications represent a major worldwide public health challenge, with high-rate morbidity and mortality. Chronic hyperglycemia leads to oxidative stress that often associated with the development of microvascular diabetic complications and increases the risk of diabetic macrovascular disease. Hyperglycemia-induced cellular damage through several mechanisms including oxidative stress (i.e., increased superoxide production), increased advanced glycation end products formation, polyol pathway activity and protein kinase C activation. Fatty liver is a clinical condition characterized by accumulation of lipids within hepatocytes so when hepatic fat content exceeding 5% of the liver weight this considered as fatty liver. It is commonly related to various components of metabolic syndrome including obesity, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has a great focus worldwide, as it is expected to affect 75% of patients with type2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Glutathione is a tripeptide that plays an essential role in serious physiological processes affecting the maintenance of redox balance, reduction of oxidative stress and enhancement of metabolic detoxification. Several studies reported that erythrocyte glutathione (GSH) concentration is decreased in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, the exact mechanisms accountable for glutathione deficiency in type 2 diabetes have not been fully well-known. It is seeming that enhancing dietary intake of glutathione precursors, co-factors, and whole foods could improve health by optimizing glutathione status in our body. These dietary sources include lean protein sources, brassica vegetables, polyphenol-rich fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices, green tea, and omega-3 fatty acid rich-foods such as fish.