Vitamin D dietary supplementation ameliorates the complications associated with type 2 diabetes induced by streptozotocin

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes is a major public health problem, accounting for significant premature mortality and morbidity. It has been reported to be associated with several chronic complications which involve coronary artery disease and renal and liver diseases that are considered the primary cause of disability and mortality in diabetic patients. Different studies stated that vitamin D have functional role in glucose tolerance through its effects on insulin secretion and sensitivity and ameliorate type 2 diabetes complication. For that this study was carried out to investigate the effect of dietary vitamin D on type 2 diabetes complication on the liver, pancreas, lipid profile, and brain function. Rats were divided into 5 groups (control, diabetic, Vitamin D treated, Vitamin D preventive, and vitamin D control). Blood and tissue samples were collected after 6 weeks for measurement of fasting blood glucose (FBG), HOMA-IR, fasting serum insulin (FSI), serum lipid profile, blood antioxidants [reduced glutathione (GSH),superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase], serum lipid peroxidation product (malondialdehyde (MDA)), and histopathological examination of the pancreas and liver, besides brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) gene expression. Our results indicated that dietary vitamin D supplementation to diabetic rats significantly increased FSI, decreased FBG and HOMA-IR, enhancing lipid profile by increase HDL-C and decrease LDL-C, TAG, and VLDL-C; Vitamin D also ameliorate GSH level and catalase activity and decrease the level of serum MDA, in addition to depress expression of brain AChE gene and improving liver and pancreas architecture. From these results, it can be concluded that vitamin D assured great protection against type 2 diabetes complications in rats.