Effect of intake of exogenous vitamins C, E and β‐carotene on the antioxidative status in kidneys of rats with streptozotocin‐induced diabetes

Abstract

We studied the effect of supplementation with vitamins C, E and β-carotene (PARABION, produced by Syndipharma) on antioxidative status in kidneys of male Wistar rats with diabetes induced by intravenous application of streptozotocin (45 mg. kg⁻¹ of body weight). The animals received subtherapeutic doses of Insulin Interdep (6U. kg⁻¹ of body weight). A significant decrease of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione and reduction of the activities of Se-glutathione peroxidase (Se-GSH-PX, EC. 1.11.1.9.) and glutathione S-transferase (GST, EC. 2.5.1.18.) were observed in kidneys of diabetic rats treated with these vitamins. On the contrary, the activity of CuZn-superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD, EC. 1.15.1.1.) and the level of vitamin C (vit. C) increased significantly. No changes were observed for vitamin E (vit. E), β-carotene and catalase (CAT, EC. 1.11.1.6.). Supplementation with vitamins C, E and β-carotene resulted in an improvement of antioxidative status of kidneys of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.