Background: Patients with diabetes mellitus are at significant risk for variable complications particularly, gastrointestinal tract disorders such as peptic ulcers. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and leptin can help tissue healing through their anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and antioxidant effects. This work aimed to compare the impact of ω-3 PUFAs and leptin on gastric ulcers as diabetic complications.
Methods: 36 rats were divided into negative control (n = 9) and Streptozotocin-induced type-II diabetes mellitus (n = 27) groups. The diabetic group was subdivided into three subgroups (n=9): diabetic control, diabetic with leptin, and diabetic with ω-3 PUFAs. A single oral indomethacin dose induced the ulcer by the end of the experiment. We assessed gastric mucosa gross appearance, histopathological parameters, and biochemical reactions.
Results: Chronic administration of leptin and ω-3 PUFAs remarkably improved gastric ulcer index, percentage ulcer protection, the expression of gastric GSH, CCK and e-NOS genes, and significantly decreased the expression of H+/K+-ATPase gene and COX-2 enzyme activity.
Conclusion: The current study found that leptin and ω-3 have antacid, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects on indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers in diabetic rats, with a more potent effect of ω-3. We hypothesize that combined administration of both might have a synergetic anti-ulcer impact, supported by previously published studies.