The effects of gliclazide and other sulfonylureas on low-density lipoprotein oxidation in vitro

Abstract

Diabetes is associated with increased oxidant stress. This may contribute to the development of diabetic macrovascular complications through increased oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is thought to be a crucial step in the development of atherosclerosis. The sulfonylurea gliclazide has been shown to have free radical-scavenging activity in vitro, but its effects on LDL oxidation, and these effects of other sulfonylureas, are unknown. To investigate this, we studied the effects of in vitro supplementation with gliclazide 1 μmol/L on copper-induced oxidation of LDL isolated from 20 control subjects and 22 type II diabetic patients. The effects of 1 μmol/L vitamin C, a known wa..