Association of nitric oxide levels and lipid profile with endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetic patients.

Background: Evidence-based screening is crucial to detect myocardial ischemia in high-risk diabetics. We explored the relationship between nitric oxide (NO) levels, lipid profile indices, and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) in type 2 diabetics with coronary artery disease (CAD) and to determine their potential as prognostic markers.

Materials and methods: A case-control study included 50 diabetics with CAD (cases), 30 diabetics without CAD (control 1), and 23 healthy controls (control 2). Biochemical parameters were determined using standard protocols; plasma NO was measured via the Griess reaction.

Results: Cases had the highest levels of NO, fasting blood sugar, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and triglycerides, and the lowest total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Cases exhibited the highest TC: HDL-C, LDL-C: HDL-C, and AIP ratios. A significant positive correlation between NO and HbA1c (r = 0.328, P = 0.020).

Conclusion: Chronic hyperglycemia could enhance NO overproduction driven by inducible isoform, suggesting a potential role for chronic hyperglycemia in endothelial dysfunction and vascular complications in diabetes.