Effect of Zinc on diabetes mellitus and lipid profile in rat

ABSTRACT

Ninety-six male albino rats were utilized in this study. They were divided into two main groups; non-diabetic group and diabetic group. The first group was divided into two equal subgroups, one of them was given distilled water and considered as a control group, while the other was given zinc sulphate orally throughout the study period. The other group was divided into equal four subgroups, all of them were diabetics. The first subgroup was served as a diabetic control group. The second subgroup was given zinc sulphate orally. The third subgroup was treated with subcutaneous insulin daily. The last one was treated by both zinc and insulin simultaneously. Diabetes mellitus was induced by intraperitoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate solution. All rats, in the previously mentioned groups, were fasted for 12 hours before taking blood samples for performance of oral glucose tolerance test, calculation of KG value and estimation of lipid profile. Induction of diabetes mellitus by alloxan was associated with significant increase in fasting scrum glucose and significant decrease in the KG value when compared with the corresponding values in non-diabetic control group. Also, alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus in rats produced significant increase in fasting serum cholesterol, fasting serum triglycerides, fasting serum LDL and significant decrease in fasting serum HDL when compared with the corresponding values in non-diabetic control group. The ratio of HDL to total cholesterol significantly decreased when compared with the corresponding value in non-diabetic control group