Serum nitric oxide status in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Sikkim

BACKGROUND: Serum nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as a fundamental signal associated with the endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes. AIMS: To compare serum nitric oxide level among type 2 diabetic patients along with other biochemical parameters and to compare it with that of normal population in Sikkim. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This prospective study was carried out in the Biochemistry Department in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Sikkim on 50 type 2 diabetics compared to 100 non-diabetics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The un-hemolyzed blood sample was collected for estimation of biochemical parameters. Griess reaction was used for indirect assay of stable decomposition products in serum(serum nitrite and nitrate levels) as an index of NO generation. The comparison of different parameters between cases and control was done by using Student's t-test. RESULTS: There was significant difference when age- and sex-matched cases and controls were compared in regard to waist circumference and body mass index. The values of fasting and postprandial serum glucose, and lipid profile between study group and control group differed significantly. The mean serum level of NO in the study and control group was 43.83 ± 11.3 μmoles/L and 58.85 ± 12.8 μmoles/L respectively, and this difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: To sum up, serum NO was observed significantly low in diabetic participants as compared to control, along with difference in other biochemical parameters.