Red Cell Catalase Activity in Diabetics

Abstract

The relationship between red cell catalase activity and glucose concentrations was examined. Red cell catalase activity, whole blood glucose concentration, red cell lysate glucose concentration and packed cell volume (PCV) were estimated in 40 diabetic patients and a control group of 30 healthy subjects. The diabetic group had a significantly lower catalase (p<0.01) activity than the control. As would be expected, the blood glucose concentration of the diabetic group was significantly higher (p<0.01) than that of the control group. Same was observed for the red cell lysate glucose concentration. There was no significant difference in the packed cell volume of both groups (p<0.01). Red cell catalase correlated negatively and significantly with red cell lysate glucose (r = -0.29, p<0.05); in the diabetic subjects. There was no significant correlation of red cell catalase with either the red cell lysate glucose concentration (r = 0.088; p>0.05) or with the blood glucose concentration (r = -0.130; p>0.05) in the control group. The findings above suggest that raised red cell glucose may exhaust red cell catalase. Low level of red cell catalase in diabetics may be a risk factor for the complications of diabetes mellitus.