EFFECT OF VITAMIN-E SUPPLEMENTATION ON ANTIOXIDANT STATUS OF DIABETICRATS

Streptozotocin (75 mg kg(-1) body weight) diabetic rats were supplemen ted with vitamin E (200 mg kg(-1) body weight) intraperitoneally twice a week for 5 weeks. The levels of plasma vitamin E, liver reduced glu tathione, ascorbic acid and lipid peroxidation were determined. Diabet ic rats showed increased lipid peroxidation, though not significantly so, but significantly decreased levels of plasma vitamin E (p < 0.01) and liver reduced glutathione (p < 0.05) as compared to control rats. However, in vitamin E-supplemented diabetic rats there was significant ly lower lipid peroxidation (p < 0.05) in liver, although there was no significant recovery in levels of plasma vitamin E and reduced glutat hione. These results indicate that vitamin E plays a protective role a gainst lipid peroxidation produced as a result of experimental diabete s.