Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Increased oxidative stress plays a crucial role in pathogenesis of various diseases. The present study aims to investigate glutathione reductase (GR) and malondialdehyde (MDA) enzymes as markers of oxidative stress mechanisms in lumbar disc degeneration disease (LDDD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 39 patients diagnosed with LDD and 37 healthy individuals in the control group. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used to determine serum GR and MDA levels in the two study groups. RESULTS: Serum GR levels were significantly lower (p=0.008), while MDA levels were significantly higher in the patient group compared to the controls (p=0.025). CONCLUSION: Oxidative stress mechanisms play a crucial role in disc degeneration and GR deficiency could be an eligible risk factor for LDDD.