Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the major microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus and the most common cause of end-stage renal failure globally. Oxidative stress is important in the pathogenesis and development of DN, and MDA is a well-known marker of lipid peroxidation and cell damage.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the correlation among serum MDA levels and traditional renal function markers, such as eGFR, serum creatinine and albuminuria in type 2 diabetic patients with and without nephropathy.

Methods: A case-control study was performed involving 90 subjects, grouped equally (n=30/group) into: Group 1 (healthy controls), Group 2 (type 2 diabetics without nephropathy), and Group 3 (type 2 diabetics with established nephropathy). Serum MDA was assessed by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances method. Parameters of renal function, glycemic control, and lipid profile were evaluated by routine methods. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression analysis and significance was defined as p < 0.05.

Results: The level of serum MDA was markedly increased in DN patients (3.84 ± 0.92 nmol/mL) than in diabetics without nephropathy (2.41 ± 0.67 nmol/mL) and healthy subjects (1.38 ± 0.43nmol/mL) (p < 0.001). MDA demonstrated significant positive correlations with serum creatinine and urinary albumin excretion, and a negative correlation with eGFR. After adjusting for age, diabetes duration, and HbA1c, MDA was found to be an independent predictor of nephropathy in multiple regression analysis. The ROC curve area for MDA to discriminate DN was 0.892.