English abstract
In Oman, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is considered as a public health problem among national adults with an increasing rate of comorbidities and mortality. Prevention of T2DM prior to onset is likely to be the most fruitful method of mitigating the well- known adverse consequences of T2DM. Pre-diabetes is a health condition that produces no symptoms, but it is a major risk factor for developing T2DM and its sequel, in fact it occurs before the full-blown onset of T2DM. An individual is pre-diabetic if he/she has a fasting blood glucose level that is above normal but below the diagnostic threshold for diabetes mellitus. Objective: The general goal for this study is to identify the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of pre-diabetes. The specific objectives are: Anthropometric, biochemical and nutritional assessment of indices of pre-diabetes among female college students at Sultan Qaboos University. Methods: this is a cross- sectional study conducted at Sultan Qaboos University. A total of 105 healthy female university students were screened and they were recruited on voluntary basis from different colleges of Sultan Qaboos University. Only 53 study participants met our study inclusion criteria (no pregnancy or lactation, no family history of chronic diseases, genetic and endocrine disorders). The retrospective dietary intake for the enrolled study subjects was recorded using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and their anthropometric indices (weight, height, body mass index, BMI) were measured. Fasting blood samples were collected and tested for the biochemical indices of oxidative stress (glutathione, GSH, and Malondialdehyde, MDA) and measuring the biochemical profile of prediabetes (fasting blood glucose and insulin levels). Results: Out of the 53 subjects, 40 % were found to have pre-diabetes (Abnormal fasting blood sugar and hyperinsulinemia), meanwhile 60 % were normal. The age, education and physical activity level of the 53 study subjects were comparable with no significant difference (P>0.05). There was significant correlation between pre-diabetes and BMI (P<0.05). The total energy intake, glycaemic load and carbohydrate intake were significantly higher in the pre-diabetics as compared to those subjects with the normal fasting blood glucose group (P˂0.05). The dietary antioxidants intake of vitamin C, selenium and vitamin E were significantly lower among the pre-diabetics as compared to the normal fasting glucose group (P˂0.05). Oxidized GSH and MDA in the sera of the pre-diabetics were significantly higher than the normal serum glucose group (P˂0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that there is a positive association between oxidative stress and pre-diabetes among the enrolled study subjects. It is suggested to adopt primary intervention program to increase awareness about pre-diabetes among young age adolescents to minimize its risks and progression to T2DM at a later stage of adulthood.
