The effect of various antioxidants on the biochemistry of chronic complications especially cardiovascular disease and nephropathy in streptozotocin-diabetic rats

Oxidative stress may contribute to long-term complications associated with diabetes such as cardiovascular disease, nephropathy, and neuropathy. The present study investigated whether the supplementation of diets of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats with antioxidants (AOX) would reduce oxidative stress (OxS), increase body weights and decrease kidney weights, and react favorably on various biochemical indices. Significant differences in body weights among all groups were recorded. Additionally, oxidative stress was greater in diabetic animals assessed by decreasing plasma ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP value) while hydroperoxides concentration increased. No significant differences were recorded for any biochemical indices. Kidney weights were significantly less in the diabetic control group compared to all remaining groups except the 4% ethanol group. This data suggest that diets of STZ-induced diabetic rats with various antioxidants reduced oxidative stress, increased body weight and decreased kidney weights and reacted favorably on various biochemical indices