HEPATOCELLULAR INDICES OF DIABETIC RATS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ANTIOXIDANT MICRO NUTRIENTS

Abstract

Complications associated with diabetes mellitus can be moderated by supplementation with antioxidant micro nutrients. In the present study, manganese, copper and zinc were supplemented in alloxan-induced diabetic rats for a period of 4 weeks. The mean serum activity (ui) of AST, ALT and ALP were 19.14±1.56, 36.43±1.74 and 48.29±2.64 in the supplemented group against 25.0±0.95, 37.57±1.70 and 54.43±1.72 observed in the unsupplemented group respectively. Mean serum levels of total protein (g/dl) and albumin (g/dl) in the supplemented group were 6.34±1.38 and 3.98±1.53 against 6.33±1.51 and 3.50±0.76 observed in the unsupplemented group respectively. Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities in the supplemented group was 1.69±0.59U/mg protein, 44.86±4.81U/mg protein and 57.14±6.56U/mg protein respectively, against 1.61±0.50U/mg protein, 36.86±5.00U/mg protein and 52.14±5.84U/mg protein recorded in the unsupplemented group respectively. The concentration of malondialdehyde in the supplemented group was 1.91±0.36nmol/ml as against 2.39±0.39nmol/ml seen in the unsupplemented group. The results suggest that antioxidant micronutrients supplementation might be beneficial in strengthening the antioxidant defense enzymes with resultant possible decrease in lipid peroxidation and improved hepatic indices of alloxan-induced diabetic rats.