Abstract
Oxidative stress has been reported to contribute to aging and cataract formation in the lens. The aim was to determine the association of oxidative stress with advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in elderly diabetic and non-diabetic patients with cataract.
In the present study, malondialdehyde, vitamin E, serum AGEs, and glycemic control were investigated. The study included 156 subjects. Out of them, 30 were normal elderly subjects, 31 were elderly diabetic patients without cataract, 33 were elderly diabetic patients with cataract, 32 were elderly non-diabetic with cataract, and 30 were normal young subjects. The patients were selected on clinical grounds from Eye Ward, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan.
Positive significant correlation was observed between s-AGEs and malondialdehyde in elderly diabetic and non-diabetic patients with cataract. Negative significant correlation was observed between s-AGEs and vitamin E in elderly diabetic and non-diabetic patients with cataract. However, the malondialdehyde and serum AGEs were found to be significantly increased (p < 0.001) in elderly diabetic and non-diabetic patients with and without cataract compared with elderly control subjects. In contrast to all four senile groups, the serum AGEs was significantly lower (p < 0.001) in young control subjects. Serum vitamin E was found to be significantly decreased (p < 0.001) in elderly diabetic patients with and without cataract compared with elderly control subjects. Fasting blood glucose, HbA(1C) and serum fructosamine levels were significantly increased (p < 0.001) in elderly diabetic patients with and without cataract compared with non-diabetic elderly patients with cataract and elderly control subjects.
This study revealed that increased AGEs were associated with oxidative stress in the elderly groups. AGE, as a result of oxidative stress, might have a role in cataract formation, which, in diabetic patients, occurs vigorously as compared with non-diabetic cataract patients.