Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level is associated with serum superoxide dismutase activity and metabolic syndrome in a Japanese population.

Summary of "Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level is associated with serum superoxide dismutase activity and metabolic syndrome in a Japanese population."

BACKGROUND:
Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level has attracted considerable attention as a predictor of various conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Although the mechanism that links the serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level to these diseases is not fully understood, one explanation is that gamma-glutamyltransferase may be closely related to oxidative stress. We conducted a large cross-sectional study to evaluate the relationship between serum gamma-glutamyltransferase and oxidative stress.
METHODS:
We examined anti-oxidative stress activity and accumulation of oxidative stress in serum obtained from 2907 subjects who underwent a complete health check-up. We used serum total superoxide dismutase activity as an index of anti-oxidative stress activity. Superoxide dismutase is one of the most important intracellular and extracellular defense systems against superoxide, but the relationship between serum superoxide dismutase activity and the serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level is unclear.
RESULTS:
The serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level was negatively correlated with serum superoxide dismutase activity, a correlation that was observed even within the normal range. A subgroup analysis stratified by the amount of alcohol consumed also showed a similar correlation. In contrast, the serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level was positively correlated with serum lipid peroxide level, even in the normal range. Furthermore, an increased serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level was significantly associated with the progression of metabolic syndrome and carotid artery intima-media thickness.
CONCLUSIONS:
The serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level, even in the normal range, was significantly associated with anti-oxidative stress activity, the accumulation of oxidative stress, metabolic syndrome, and atherosclerosis. Measuring the serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level is simple and inexpensive, and this level can be used as a sensitive marker of oxidative stress and metabolic syndrome.

Affiliation

Department of Gastroenterology, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan, n-hayato@yf7.so-net.ne.jp.

Journal Details

This article was published in the following journal.

Name: Journal of gastroenterology
ISSN: 1435-5922
Pages:

Links

• PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21976134
• DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00535-011-0477-8