AbstractContext: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterised by chronic hyperglycaemia, oxidative stress and dyslipidaemia. Glycaemic control may not always normalize the dyslipidaemia and antioxidant status. Aim: To study the effect of taurine on glycaemic control, antioxidant status and dislipidaemia in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Settings and Design: It is an experimental study done on Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty two Wistar male albino rats of 19±1 weeks of age weighing 200-220 grams were randomly divided into four groups and each group consisted of eight animals. Group I (control) standard chow diet; Group II (chow diet plus taurine) Group III (diabetes induced), Group IV (diabetic receiving taurine). At the end of 45th day, all animals were sacrificed by cervical decapitation after overnight fasting. Blood and liver tissue samples were collected for analyses of plasma glucose, plasma and hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), lipid profile, activities of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and Lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) and histopathological studies of liver for fatty changes. Statistical analysis used: One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was applied in order to evaluate any significant difference in the mean values. Results: The present study found that there was no significant change in plasma glucose levels and plasma and hepatic TBARS levels were significantly reduced while a significant positive modulation of lipid profile and reduction of hepatic fats in diabetic rats treated with taurine. Conclusions: The present study indicates that taurine supplementation might be beneficial in alleviating oxidative stress and dyslipidaemia in diabetes.
Keywords: Diabetes; Streptozotacin; Taurine; Antioxidant; Dyslipidaemia