Dynamic Thiol/Disulfide Homeostasis as a Complementary Oxidative Stress Marker Across Albuminuria Stages in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Yıl 2026, Cilt: 33 Sayı: 1, 71 - 77, 21.03.2026

Atila Altuntaş , Bünyamin Aydın , Sıddıka Ersoy , Özcan Erel , Hasret Demirel , Şeniz Tutum

https://doi.org/10.17343/sdutfd.1767002

https://izlik.org/JA26SP76ZF

Öz

Objective
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) remains one of the most
serious complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus
(T2DM). Traditionally, disease progression has
been evaluated through albuminuria, yet increasing
evidence highlights the role of oxidative stress and
redox imbalance in DN pathogenesis. The present
study was designed to evaluate dynamic thiol/disulfide
homeostasis across albuminuria stages and to explore
its potential role as a complementary systemic oxidative
stress marker alongside albuminuria in T2DM.

Material and Method
A total of 122 individuals were included and categorized
into four study groups: 30 healthy participants (Group
1), 31 normoalbuminuric diabetic patients (Group 2),
31 patients with microalbuminuria (Group 3), and 30
patients with macroalbuminuria (Group 4). Plasma
thiol/disulfide parameters were measured using the
automated method developed by Erel and Neselioglu,
while urinary albumin concentrations were determined
by immunoturbidimetric assay.

Results
Progressive decreases in both native and total thiol
levels were observed with advancing severity of
albuminuria (p<0.001). Disulfide concentrations
showed a downward trend in macroalbuminuric
patients (p=0.019), although disulfide-related ratios
remained largely unchanged across the groups.
Correlation analyses identified significant negative
associations between thiol concentrations and
diabetes duration, HbA1c, as well as CRP levels
(p<0.001).

Conclusion
Dynamic thiol/disulfide balance reflects systemic
oxidative stress but cannot fully substitute for
albuminuria as a marker of DN. Instead, it appears
to provide complementary insight into oxidative
mechanisms associated with DN severity in T2DM
patients.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Albuminuria , Diabetes mellitus , Diabetic nephropathy , Oxidative stress , Thiol/disulfide homeostasis

Etik Beyan

This study was approved by the Suleyman Demirel University Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Date: 15.04.2020, No: 72867572.050.01.04). The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent to participate and publish was obtained from all individual participants or legal guardians included in the study.

Destekleyen Kurum

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-forprofit sectors.

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