Background: It has been suggested that an increase in oxidative stress in individuals with Down syndrome (DS) may cause adverse effects in the cell membranes through the oxidation of polyunsatured fatty acids.
Methods: We examined erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in 100 individuals of both sexes (34 males and 66 females) with DS, aged from newborn to 29 years. The cytogenetic analysis revealed 90 individuals with regular trisomy 21, four individuals with trisomy 21 by Robertsonian (Rb) translocation, and six individuals with mosaic trisomy 21. DS individuals were divided into six age groups. The control group consisted of 100 healthy individuals of both sexes (40 males and 60 females) who were age-matched with DS subjects.
Results: No significant differences were found in erythrocyte MDA levels between the sexes in any of the age groups for the DS group and the control group. We confirmed significantly higher erythrocyte levels of MDA in individuals with DS compared to the control group. A significant difference was observed in erythrocyte MDA levels between DS individuals with trisomy and controls for all age groups, and in individuals with DS due to Rb translocation trisomy. However, in DS individuals with mosaicism, MDA levels depended on the percentage of diploid and trisomy cells.
Conclusions: Our results confirm an increase in lipid peroxidation in patients with DS.