Erythrocyte membrane electron transfer, diet and lifestyle in healthy and in type 1 diabetic families.

Objective: Human erythrocyte membrane contains electron transfer systems, which protect against extracellulax pro-oxidant challenge and whose activity is closely related to the metabolic state of the cell. Particularly, erythrocytes export electrons to external ferryicyanide (RBC vfcy). Having chaxacterised RBC vfcy in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D), we evaluated modulating effects of diet and lifestyle on RBC vfcy in healthy and T1D relatives. Methods: We measured RBC vfcy in 95 healthy controls and 76 nondiabetic relatives of type 1 diabetics whose dietary habits and lifestyle were assessed by using the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer and Nutrition questionnaires. Results: RBC vfcy was 12.1-4-3.6 I~mol/ml h in 95 healthy controls and 12.6-4-4.2 in 76 T1DM relatives. Daily intake of vitamin C was 121-4-47 mg in 95 healthy controls and 131-4-64 in 76 T1DM relatives; regular exercise was 2.4-4-1.8 hour/week and 2.1-4-1.9, respectively. Were positively associated with RBC vfcy daily dietary intake of vitamin C among healthy controls, whereas time spent in regular exercise among relatives. Conclusions: Dietary intake of vitamin C and sporting activities modulate erythrocyte electron transfer efficiency. Iintracellulax electron donors available from dietary sources can be very important in maintaining the redox environment of a cell. Our data also support evidence suggesting that regular exercise may improve electron transport efficiency. However, the reason why independent lifestyle variables associated with RBC vfcy markedly differed among population subgroups remains unknown. Funding: Research funds.