Relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and erythrocyte membrane cholesterol oxidation products in type 2 diabetic patients

Oxidative stress is well known to play a critical role in atherosclerosis. This study investigated an appropriate marker of in vivo oxidative stress and whether it could predict macroangiopathy in diabetes. The lipid composition of erythrocyte membranes was analyzed in 64 type 2 diabetic patients using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). After 3,5,7-cholestatriene (a cholesterol oxidation product) was detected, the peak height ratio of 3,5,7-cholestatriene to cholesterol was calculated. Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured to evaluate atherosclerosis. The IMT was independently associated with 3,5,7-cholestatriene ( P