Background: Though there are experimental and clinical evidences regarding oxidant-antioxidant disturbance in obese subjects, clinical data supporting the same in Indian male subjects is lacking. The objective of the present study was to verify the oxidative stress status of male subjects classified as obese according to the WHO guidelines for Asians.Methods: Thirty six obese men with BMI between 25-30 Kg/m2 and 30 non-obese men with BMI < 25 Kg/m2 were enrolled in the study. Malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, fasting glucose and body mass index were assessed in both the groups.Results: Plasma MDA and erythrocyte activity of glutathione peroxidase were significantly increased in the obese subjects when compared with controls. The levels of reduced glutathione were significantly reduced in the obese group when compared with controls. Among the obese group, BMI was significantly associated with MDA and glutathione peroxidase. Further among the obese subjects, glutathione peroxidase correlated significantly with MDA. A significant negative correlation was obtained between MDA and GSH in obese subjects.Conclusion: The data from the present study indicates a significant perturbation of the oxidant – antioxidant status in Indian males considered as obese according to the preliminary WHO guidelines for Asians. The increase in oxidative stress and glutathione peroxidase activity in obesity may contribute towards its pathological complications
