A comparative study of levels of MDA, SOD, NO and XOD between gastric mucosa of Han and Tibetan patients with chronic gastritis at the same altitude in Qinghai province

Objective To compare the levels of four factors between gastric mucosa of Han and Tibetan patients with chronic gastritis residing in districts at the same altitude in Qinghai Province.Methods Levels of malonic aldehyde （ MDA） , superoxide dismutase （SOD） , nitric oxide （ NO） and xanthine oxidase （XOD） in gastric mucosa of Han and Tibetan patients with chronic gastritis resident in same altitude districts were examined, and a comparative study was performed.Results Levels of MDA and SOD were significantly higher in gastric mucosa of Han patients （2 2699 ± 1.58906 nmol/mgprot and 134.6313 ±48.35329 U/mgport, respectively） than those of the Tibetan （1.7095 ± 1.19474 nmol/mgprot and 109.5056 ± 28.26794 U/mgport, respectively） （P 〈0.05） , which indicated there were differences in metabolism of oxygen free radicals and antioxi-dant free radicals between 2 ethnics.However, there were no differences in NO and XOD levels between two ethnical groups, which suggested no ethnical difference in metabolism of the two factors.Conclusion There is ethnical difference in MDA and SOD metabolism in gastric mucosa of Han and Tibetan patients with chronic gastritis from same altitude district, which is presumably due to the different tolerance to the hypoxia at high altitude. Key words: Gastric mucosa;  Anoxia;  Altitude;  Minority Groups