Pediatric Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism

Abstract

2/2026 vol. 32
Original paper

Oxidative stress and insulin resistance in Libyan Down syndrome individuals: assessment and association compared to a healthy comparison group

Amani Mohamed Tayeh 1
,
Osama Hussien El-Deeb 2
,
Mohamed Hamza Ahmeida 3, 4

  1. Department of Biomedical Science, Division of Life Science, Libyan Academy for Postgraduate Studies,
    Al-Bayda, Libya

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Al-Bayda, Libya

  3. Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, Benghazi University, Benghazi, Libya

  4. Master of Clinical Biochemistry Program (LIMU), Libyan International University, Benghazi, Libya

Pediatr Endocrinol Diabetes Metab 2026; 32 (2): 86-95

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/pedm.2026.161190
Online publish date: 2026/06/05
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Introduction

Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) are at increased risk of metabolic disturbances, including oxidative stress (OS) and insulin resistance (IR). The relationship between OS and IR in this population remains unclear.

Aim of the study

To assess OS and IR in Libyan individuals with DS and examine the influence of adiposity and age.

Material and methods

Fifty individuals with DS (aged 5–25 years) and 58 age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched individuals (comparison group, CG) were included. Anthropometric measurements, fasting glucose, insulin, malondialdehyde (MDA), and Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) were assessed. Associations between MDA, HOMA-IR, and body composition were evaluated.

Results

No significant correlation was found between MDA and HOMA-IR (r = 0.064, p = 0.661). No significant difference in HOMA-IR was observed between the DS group and the CG (p = 0.822), although 44% of DS subjects showed elevated HOMA-IR. In contrast, MDA levels were significantly higher in the DS group compared to the CG (p < 0.001), but remained within the normal range.

Conclusions

IR in DS appears to be mainly driven by adiposity rather than the syndrome itself, while OS is elevated but largely independent of IR.

Keywords

body mass index, Down syndrome, HOMA-IR, insulin resistance, oxidative stress

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