Abstract
Enhanced lipid peroxidation and elevated interleukin-6 levels are common in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Atherosclerotic vascular complications greatly contribute to morbidity and mortality in diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess the relation of lipid peroxidation and interleukin-6 with carotid atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 90 type 2 diabetes mellitus male patients with age ≥ 40 years and 30 healthy male subjects matched for age. All of them were subjected to measuring of 8-iso prostaglandin F2α as a marker of lipid peroxidation, interleukin-6 and carotid intima media thickness as a marker of carotid atherosclerosis. RESULTS: Both 8-iso prostaglandin F2α and interleukin-6 were found to have significant positive correlation with carotid intima media thickness (P < 0.001) and both were found to be significant predictors of the presence of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in multiple regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Lipid peroxidation and interleukin-6 may play an important role in atherogenesis in type 2 diabetes mellitus and limiting their effects may reduce atherosclerotic vascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus.