Plasma 8‐epi‐PGF2α levels are elevated in individuals with non‐insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

This study reports plasma levels of a specific nonenzymatic peroxidation product of arachidonic acid, esterified 8-epi-PGF2 alpha, from healthy- and NIDDM individuals as an index of oxidative stress in vivo. Plasma 8-epi-PGF2 alpha was isolated by solid-phase extraction on a C18 followed by an NH2 cartridge and analyzed by GC-MS/NICI as PFB-ester/TMS-ether derivative. We found that the average concentration of esterified 8-epi-PGF2 alpha among NIDDM subjects (0.93 +/- 0.07 nM, n = 39) was higher (P < 0.0001, Mann-Whitney test) than in healthy individuals (0.28 +/- 0.04 nM, n = 15). These data indicate that NIDDM is associated with increased plasma lipid peroxidation.