Haematological and Antioxidant Properties of Alloxan-Induced Diabetes Rats Supplemented with Antioxidant Micronutrients

Abstract

Oxidative stress is elevated in patients with diabetes mellitus and oxidative modification of red cell membrane increases its fragility. Micronutrients with antioxidant effect protect structure and function of biological membranes. In the current study, manganese, copper and zinc, were supplemented in alloxan-induced diabetic rats for a period of 4 weeks. Haematological indices were determined by standard methods and results analyzed using InStat3 Statistical Software. Haemoglobin, packed cell volume, and red blood cell concentrations were 16.91±0.23g/dl, 50.0±1.11% and 5.63±0.32(1012/L) in controls 12.43±0.71g/dl, 36.42±1.38% and 4.58±0.23(1012/L) in treated unsupplemented group, and 13.84±0.43g/dl, 42.14±1.67% and 5.54±0.32(1012/L) in treated and supplemented groups respectively. Mean cell volume, mean cell haematocrit and mean cell haematocrit concentration values were 9.39±0.25fl, 3.15±0.12pg and 0.33±0.01g/L in controls, 8.18±0.46fl, 2.74±0.09pg and 0.34±0.62g/L in the treated unsupplemented group, and 7.99±0.65fl, 2.57±0.18pg and 0.32±0.01g/L in the treated and supplemented group respectively. Activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase were 2.00±0.17U/mg protein, 46.43±4.25U/mg protein and 59.86±1.08U/mg protein in the controls, 1.67±0.22U/mg protein, 36.88±3.91U/mg protein and 39.86±3.03U/mg protein in the unsupplemented group and 1.61±0.18U/mg protein, 44.86±1.82U/mg protein and 57.14±2.48U/mg protein in the supplemented group respectively. The concentration of malondialdehyde was 1.83±0.16nmol/ml in controls, 2.37±0.19nmol/ml in supplemented group and 1.91±1.14nmol/ml in the supplemented group. It may be concluded from the present study that antioxidant micronutrient improve some haematological and antioxidant indices and reduce lipid peroxidation in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Keywords: diabetes, haematological indices, micronutrients, lipid peroxidation.