Background: Diabetes mellitus and other chronic medical conditions are associated with ageing. Sarcopenia is also affected elderly populations. The role of inflammation and oxidative stress in both conditions is poorly investigated.
The aim of the work: The current work was designed to examine the possible association of oxidative stress and inflammation in sarcopenia with diabetes in elderly subjects.
 Patients and Methods: Eighty patients older than 65 years of age with diabetes were included in the current work. They were categorized into two equal groups; the first for sarcopenia with diabetes and the second for diabetics without sarcopenia. All were clinically evaluated, in addition to laboratory workup to check diabetes and oxidant-antioxidant system besides some of the inflammatory markers.
Results: No significant differences were recognized regarding patient demographics, associated comorbid conditions or duration of diabetes. There was significant reduction of BMI, hip circumference, skeletal muscle mass and gait speed in the sarcopenic than the non-sarcopenic group [25.51 ± 0.67, 98.15 ± 3.97, 7.07 ± 0.83 and 0.68 ± 0.11 vs. 27.07 ± 1.31, 105.53 ± 4.59, 9.44 ± 1.01 and 0.98 ± 0.12, successively]. There was significant increase of CRP, xanthine oxidase, in the sarcopenic than non-sarcopenic groups [5.15 ± 0.72, 0.532 ± 0.109 vs. 3.03 ± 0.78, 0.344 ± 0.063, respectively]. However, plasma glutathione was significantly reduced in sarcopenic than non-sarcopenic groups [0.190±0.057 vs. 0.233±0.047, respectively].  Finally, plasma xanthine oxidase, glutathione, CRP, BMI and absolute skeletal muscle mass are significantly associated with the development of sarcopenia.
Conclusion: Oxidative stress and disturbance of oxidant-antioxidant systems seems to play a crucial role in sarcopenia associated with diabetes mellitus in elderly subjects.