Effect of cholecalciferol supplementation on blood glucose in an experimental model of type 2 diabetes mellitus in spontaneously hypertensive rats and Wistar rats.
BACKGROUND
Vitamin D might have an influence on glucose concentrations, due to the presence of VDR receptors on the pancreas. We established an experimental model of type 2 diabetes in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar rats in order to investigate the glycemic response.


METHODS
SHR males (n=6) and Wistar rats (n=6) weighing approximately 89+/-5.5 g and 123.5+/-6.5 g, respectively, after 7 days of basal period, had the chow pattern substituted (350 kcal/100 g) for a hypercaloric/hyperlipidic (HC/HL) diet (490 kcal/100g) and then injected with 40 mg/kg (SHR) and 20 mg/kg (Wistar) streptozotocin I.P. After the creation of diabetes, the rats suffered daily gavage of cholecalciferol (12.5 microg/kg(-) (1)) for 14 days. The blood glucose was assessed twice a week with a glucometer. The data were analyzed by ANOVA.


RESULTS
SHR and Wistar rats fed on a HC/HL diet gained 60 g and 32 g in once week, vs. the basal period, where they only gained 23 g and 13 g, respectively. The cholecalciferol supplementation did not change the glucose concentration in all of the SHR animals. About 40% of the group responded by treatment with reduction of about 60% in glucose concentrations. We did find a 40% of the blood glucose levels in all Wistar rats.


CONCLUSIONS
Cholecalciferol is able to reduce blood glucose in this experimental diabetes model.
de Souza Santos
Rosane
R
Laboratory of Nutritional Investigation and Degenerative-Chronic Diseases, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro State (UNIRIO), Brazil.
Vianna
Lucia Marques
LM
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002762:Cholecalciferol; D013311:Streptozocin