Peroxide metabolism enzymes in diabetic children: relationship to duration and control of diabetes.

Enzyme activities of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase and catalase in groups of diabetic children, the duration of the disease and control qualities were compared with respective values obtained for healthy children. Generally the disease duration was clearly found to affect SOD activity, and catalase activity only a little. No similar influence of either diabetes duration or control was noticed in the case of peroxidase. SOD activity was diminished in diabetics when compared with control subjects, and in turn peroxidase and catalase activities were generally elevated. The diminution in SOD activity may constitute a reason for enhanced pancreatic cells susceptibility to deterioration, followed by the augmentation of peroxidase activity with an 'elaborated' mechanism compensating for the loss of erythrocyte SOD activity.