ABSTRACT
Background: The lack of vitamin D deficiency has been found to be closely associated with many health problems such as metabolic syndrome, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. This interest has also arisen due to the identification that most cells, along with the pancreatic beta-cells, incorporate the vitamin D receptor. Aims and Objectives: In this study, we tested the potential anti-diabetic effect of cholecalciferol, one of the vitamin D analogs, alone or in combination with vildagliptin in type 2 diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Type 2 diabetic model rats were induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin followed by nicotinamide. Rats were assigned into five groups each of six rats divided as follows: Normal (non-diabetic) control (Group A), untreated diabetic group receiving the vehicles only (Group B), cholecalciferol-treated group (Group C), vildagliptin-treated group (Group D), and group receiving a combination of cholecalciferol and vildagliptin (Group E). The treatment course lasted for 1 month. For the estimation of fasting blood sugar, the rats were kept deprived of food overnight and were allowed free access to water. Blood samples were collected from the tail of rat with the help of glucometer. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20 software. One-way ANOVA test was used to compare the effect of drugs on different group. Post hoc analysis was done using Turkeys HSD (honestly significant difference) test. Differences were considered significant at (P < 0.05). Results: Mean FBS value of vitamin D, vildagliptin, and their combination was 181.50 mg/dl, 95.0 mg/dl, and 84.83 mg/dl on day 28. It showed that the combination of both drugs acquired much closer value of FBS as compared to normal non-diabetic control group and thus achieved normal glucose level more effectively. Furthermore, coadministration showed greater fall in fasting blood glucose at the extent of 61.15% as compared to 56.45% by vildagliptin and 17% by cholecalciferol alone on day 28. Conclusion: Therefore, it may be suggested through this study that vitamin D has blood glucose lowering property and coadministration of vitamin D and vildagliptin potentiate the action of each other.