Association between Pro‐oxidant‐Antioxidant balance and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A Study on Postmenopausal Women

INTRODUCTION: Oxidative stress known as a predictive marker for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases could be measured through pro‐oxidant antioxidant balance (PAB). The present study aimed to evaluate PAB and its association with high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) in the serum of postmenopausal women with diabetes mellitus. METHODS: In this case–control study, 99 diabetic and 100 healthy postmenopausal women without diabetes mellitus were recruited. Serum PAB values, hs‐CRP, lipid profile, insulin, and vitamin D levels were measured. Moreover, insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR, HOMA‐β and QUICKI), waist circumference (WC), waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR), waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR), and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. RESULTS: Serum PAB, hs‐CRP, insulin resistance, HOMA‐β, QUICKI, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), and triglycerides (TG) levels were significantly higher in the postmenopausal women with diabetes mellitus, while there was no significant difference in the total cholesterol (TC), serum insulin, WC, WHR, WHtR and vitamin D levels between the groups. Pearson correlation coefficient showed that HDL‐C and insulin levels were directly correlated with serum PAB. Also, there was a significant direct relationship between LDL‐C and insulin levels and hs‐CRP. There was no meaningful relationship between serum insulin and vitamin D levels and other assessed parameters. Backward logistic regression showed a positive relationship between diabetes mellitus and serum PAB and an inverse relationship with serum HDL levels. CONCLUSIONS: Serum PAB, hs‐CRP concentration, and lipid profile were significantly different between postmenopausal women with and without diabetes mellitus. These differences may contribute to the development of coronary complications.