RESUMO
Diabetes induced by streptozotocin (50 mg/kg body wt, i.p.) in the rats substantially increased the plasma glucose and malondialdehyde levels along with corresponding decrease in the antioxidants levels. Supplementation of vitamin E (200 mg/kg body wt., ip) for 5 weeks resulted in non-significant decrease in the blood glucose levels but plasma malondialdehyde levels were reduced to below normal levels. Plasma vitamin E, vitamin C, uric acid and red blood cell glutathione levels were also restored to near normal levels on vitamin E supplementation to diabetic rats as compared to control (diabetic) rats. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, catalase (EC 1.11.1.6), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx EC 1.11.1.9), and glutathione reductase (GR EC 1.6.4.2) were also concomitantly restored to near normal levels by vitamin E supplementation to diabetic rats. The results clearly demonstrated that vitamin E supplementation augments the antioxidant defense mechanism in diabetes and provides evidence that vitamin E may have a therapeutic role in free radical mediated diseases.