Activity of Extracellular Superoxide Dismutase in Gestational Diabetes

Recent studies indicate that Extracellular Superoxide (EC-SOD) may not be as scarce in some tissues as was initially believed. The EC-SOD is the major isoenzyme of SOD in the umbilical cord and is a major source of SOD activity in the uterus. The possible role of EC-SOD in gestational diabetes has not been reported. Hence, the present study was planned to study EC-SOD in healthy non-pregnant, healthy normotensive pregnant women and women with gestational diabetes. The present study was carried out in twenty healthy Non-Pregnant (NPW) controls (in age group 18-35 years), twenty healthy age-matched normotensive pregnant women (28-36 weeks gestation) and twenty (age-and parity-matched) women with gestational diabetes. Serum Extracellular Superoxide Dismutase Activity (EC-SOD) and superoxide generation was analyzed in these women. The EC-SOD levels were significantly decreased in G-DM as compared to HPW, NPW controls (p<0.001) and superoxide generation was raised in G-DM as compared to HPW (p<0.001). A significant negative correlation was observed between EC-SOD levels and superoxide generation (r = -0.175, p<0.05) in G-DM. These findings indicate that radical scavenging antioxidants are consumed by enhanced levels of free radicals produced during glucose induced oxidative stress.