In various pathological conditions such as diabetes mellitus, the cellular redox balance can be disturbed and these alterations may persist even after blood glucose levels have returned to normal. Antioxidant therapies, including α-lipoic acid, are widely used to treat various systemic diseases including diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to measure the lipid metabolism parameters, as well as the activity of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense reactions, in men with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) during treatment with α-lipoic acid. Twenty-four reproductive-age T1DM males with an unsatisfactory glycemic profile were examined. Twenty-eight practically healthy men of similar age were used as the control group. Spectrophotometric, fluorometric, and enzyme-linked immunoassay methods were used. T1DM was characterized by increased values of lipid metabolism components, including total cholesterol, triacylglycerides (TG), and very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL). In the lipid peroxidation system, increased levels of the primary products (conjugated dienes), secondary products (thiobarbituric acid reactants), and final products (Schiff bases) were observed in T1DM patients compared to the control group. Retinol values were also increased. After treatment, there was a decrease in TG, VLDL, and Schiff bases levels and an increase in the retinol level compared to before treatment. These results expand our understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms of T1DM and suggest that α-LA treatment may be beneficial for type 1 diabetics.
