Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease, and is one of the major and growing health problems due to its high prevalence, chronic nature and high risk of chronic complications. Low serum vitamin D correlates with insulin resistance, obesity, glucose intolerance and frank type II diabetes mellitus.
Objective: Investigate and evaluate the effect of pre-treated and treated vitamin D on insulin resistance, lipid profile and platelet indices in diabetic male albino rats.
Materials and methods: Forty adult male albino rats of a local strain were used and divided into four equal groups: Group I: Control received saline intraperitoneal in a dose of 1mL/rat, Group II: Diabetic by a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (150 mg/kg body weight), Group III: Diabetic received vitamin D in a dose of 100 ng /Kg daily by gastric gavag for 10 weeks before induction of diabetes, and Group IV: Diabetic received vitamin D in a dose of 100 ng /Kg daily by gastric gavag for 10 weeks after induction of diabetes.
Results: A significant marked recovery in insulin and glucose levels was recorded in diabetic animals pretreated and treated with vitamin D. Also, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) returned to approximate normal value. The lipid profile in pretreated and treated diabetic rats with vitamin D improved as shown by the significant reduction in the values of TG, TC, LDL, and VLDL and low risk I and II associated with marked elevation of HDL. A significant decrease in the platelet count and its mean volume was recorded in pretreated and treated diabetic animals with vitamin D.
Conclusion: Vitamin D can be effective in inhibition and decreasing of insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and coagulation activity, and consequently the improvement of diabetes and its complications.