A pilot study to investigate iron and RBC damage in type 2 diabetes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A cross-sectional pilot study into the relationship between non-transferrin-bound iron and erythrocyte membrane integrity in type 2 diabetes, with and without statins medication
IRAS ID
190275
Contact name
Desley White
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Plymouth University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 20 days
Research summary
This pilot project addresses the question of what causes the vascular complications seen in poorly controlled diabetes. We don’t know for certain why risk for cardiovascular disease increases with diabetes, but there is a growing body of work which suggests that a toxic form of iron is part of the picture. Our laboratory has recently shown that toxic "non-transferrin-bound" iron (NTBI) is increased in people in type 2 diabetes, compared to healthy controls. We propose that the source of this iron is from haemoglobin, from damaged red blood cells. Increased red blood cell fragility has been well documented in diabetes, and this study aims to establish whether or not there is a correlation between NTBI and erythrocyte fragility in 20 people with type 2 diabetes. As the function of red blood cell membranes are affected by the degree of cholesterol within them, which is reduced when people receive statins medication, ten of the participants with diabetes will be receiving statins therapy, and ten will not. Ten healthy controls will also be recruited. Other parameters that will be will assessed include iron status, and cell and plasma antioxidant levels.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/YH/0444
Date of REC Opinion
31 Oct 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion