Effects of vitamin C on glucose metabolism during acute Chagas disease

Abstract

AbstractIntroduction: Chagas disease is characterized by lesions caused by the host immune response, which can influence the glucose metabolism.Objective: To evaluate the action of vitamin C on glucose metabolism during the acute phase of Chagas disease.Methods: Sixty swiss mice were divided into four groups: NW, NC, IW, and IC. NW and NC groups were not infected, whereas IW and IC were intraperitoneally infected with 5.0 × 104 trypomastigotes of T. cruzi QM2 strain. IC and NC groups received 500 mg/day of vitamin C. All groups were treated for 60 days. Blood glucose and weight were measured individually and weekly. Five animals from each group were euthanized on day 15, 30, and 60 for blood and tissues collection.Results: Lower parasitemia (p≤0.05) in the IC group was noticed, but greater damage to the pancreatic tissue. In the 15 days post infection, lower glucose concentrations (p≤0.05) and insulin levels (p≤0.05) were observed in the IC and IW groups regarding NC and NW. The infected groups had decreased body mass 30 days post infection, with significant difference (p≤0.05) in the IW group on the sixtieth day. Significant difference (p≤0.05) for hepatic glycogen was found only on day 60, with a lower concentration in the NC group than the other groups.Conclusion: Vitamin C can control parasitemia, blood glucose and weight 30 days after infection, but a more intense inflammatory process has been observed at the end of acute phase. The use of vitamin C in Chagas disease may have physiological repercussions.