Effect of Vitamins C and E Alone and in Combination with Each Other on LDL and Fibrinogen in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Background and Aim:  Diabetes mellitus is a hete-rogeneous group of disorders, manifested by raised plasma glucose concentration and disturbances of glu-cose metabolism Diabetes mellitus is a complex of metabolic disorders affecting different systems of body. The main etiology of mortality and high per-centage of morbidity in patients with diabetes mellitus is atherosclerosis. The vascular endothelium overlying lesion - prone arterial sites shows increased perme-ability to plasma proteins, LDL and fibrinogen. High plasma fibrinogen concentration in adults is associated with elevated risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. Treatment with antioxidants like vitamin C and vita-min E reduces diabetic complications. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of antioxidants vita-min C and E in lowering the fibrinogen and LDL levels.

Methodology:  Present study was conducted on 48 albino rats. They were divided into four groups. Dia-betes was induced in all rats by giving streptozotocin 65 mg/kg intraperitoneally. First group was control diabetic. Second group was given vitamin C in a dose of 150 mg/kg b.w/day and third group was given vita-min E in a dose of 100 mg/kg b.w/day. Fourth group was given vitamin C with vitamin E intraperitoneally in the same doses. Effects of vitamin C and E were observed on serum LDL and plasma fibrinogen level by using commercially available kits.

Results:  LDL cholesterol was decreased in groups B, C and D as compared to group A. Fibrinogen level was decreased in - group B and D and increased in group C.

Conclusion:  Vitamin C alone and in combination with vitamin E help in ameliorating atherosclerosis by decreasing LDL and fibrinogen levels. Vitamin E lowers LDL level but not fibrinogen level. There is a synergistic action of vitamin E and C in lowering fibrinogen and LDL level.

Key words:  Diabetes mellitus, Vitamin C, Vitamin E.