Sequential Analysis of Oxidative Stress Markers and Vitamin C Status in Acute Bacterial Osteomyelitis

Abstract EN

In bacterial bone infections, excessively formed oxidants may result in local and systemic oxidative stress.

Vitamin C is the major extracellular nonenzymatic antioxidant, also implicated in bone cells metabolism and viability.

The physiological functions of vitamin C largely depend on its redox status.

We sequentially assessed oxidative stress markers, hydroperoxides and malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant activity (AOA), total vitamin C, ascorbic acid (Asc), and oxidized/reduced vitamin C ratio in 137 patients with acute osteomyelitis (OM).

Compared to 52 healthy controls, in OM group baseline serum hydroperoxides, MDA and oxidized/reduced vitamin C ratio were higher whilst Asc and AOA were lower ( P < 0.05 , resp.).

On the other side, total vitamin C levels in patients and controls were similar ( P > 0.05 ) , thereby suggesting a relative rather than absolute vitamin C deficiency in OM.

During the follow-up, oxidative stress markers, AOA, and oxidizedreduced vitamin C ratio were gradually returned to normal, while there was no apparent change of total vitamin C concentrations.

Persistently high values of oxidized/reduced vitamin C ratio and serum MDA were found in subacute OM.

In conclusion, acute OM was associated with enhanced systemic oxidative stress and the shift of vitamin C redox status towards oxidized forms.