Background: Metformin is used in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin with antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, the effect of combining metformin and vitamin C in treating the diabetic myopathy
was investigated in this research.
Methods: Forty rats were used divided into 4 groups; control group (group I), diabetic group (group II), metformin group < br />(group III), and vitamin C and metformin group (group IV). Body weight was measured before and at the end of the experiment.
Blood glucose levels and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. Tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide
dismutase (SOD) were measured. Sections of the skeletal muscle were stained with H&E, Masson trichrome, and caspase-3 and
inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) immnuostaining. Morphometric and statistical analyses for the results were performed.
Results: Body weight of rats of group I and group II were decreased then increased in group IV. Blood glucose levels were
elevated in group II; and reduced in group III and group IV. MDA level were increased in group II, then lowered in both in
group III and group IV.SOD activity was decreased in group II, then increased in group III and group IV toward normal level.
Collagen deposition and immune reaction to caspase-3 were elevated in group II and group III and group IV. Immune reaction
to iNOS was elevated in group II and group III, and nearly the same as group I in group IV.
Conclusions: Combined intake of vitamin C and metformin provided better results in treating diabetic myopathy than that
obtained from metformin alone.