Oral treatment with an antioxidant (raxofelast) reduces oxidative stress and improves endothelial function in men with type II diabetes

Abstract

Aims/hypothesis: To determine whether raxofelast, a new water soluble antioxidant decreases oxidative stress and improves endothelial function in men with Type II (non-insulin dependent) diabetes mellitus.

Methods: We treated ten normotensive, normocholesterolaemic men with Type II diabetes and as controls ten healthy men matched with them for age with raxofelast (600 mg twice daily) for 1 week. Plasma 8-epi-PGF(2a), a non-enzymic oxidation product of arachidonic acid was measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry as an index of oxidative stress. Forearm vasodilator responses to brachial artery infusion of acetylcholine (7.5, 15 and 30 microg min(-1)) and of the nitric oxide donor nitroprusside (1, 3 and 10 microg min(-1)) were measured by strain gauge plethysmography.

Results: Plasma concentrations of 8-epi-PGF(2a), were greater in diabetic than in control men (0.99 +/- 0.20 vs 0.18 +/- 0.01 nmol 1(-1), means +/- SEM, p < 0.001) and fell after raxofelast (from 0.99 +/- 0.20 to 0.47 +/- 0.07 nmol 1(-1), p < 0.05) in diabetic men but not in control men. Blood flow responses to acetylcholine were lower (p < 0.05) in diabetic than in control men (7.4 +/- 1.0 vs 12.9 +/- 2.3 ml min(-1) x 100 ml(-1) for the highest dose). In diabetic men, but not in control men, raxofelast increased (p < 0.05) blood flow responses to acetylcholine (from 7.4 +/- 1.0 m x min(-1) x 100 ml(-1) to 11.3 +/- 2.3 ml x min(-1) x 100 ml(-1) at highest dose). Blood flow responses to nitroprusside were similar in control and diabetic men and in both groups were similar before and after raxofelast.

Conclusion/interpretation: Oral treatment with raxofelast for 1 week reduces oxidative stress and improves endothelial function in men with Type II diabetes.