Biochemical effects of vanadium chloride in rats with experimentally diabetes induced with streptozotocin

Diabetes mellitus is a disease which caused by the deficiency of insulin hormone secretion or it's effect. It is characterised with glycosuria and high blood glucose levels. Diabetes is the most common endocrine disorder in the world. Vanadium is one of the essential trace elements for mammals, which has important functions in the metabolism of carbohydrates. In this study we investigated the effects of vanadium (IV) chloride in rats with experimentally induced diabet. For this purpose, serum glucose, HbA1c, insulin and lipid profile (triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and VLDL) were examined. 28 male Sprague-Dawley albino rats were used in this study as animal material. Rats divided into four groups as control, vanadium. diabetic and diabetic+vanadium. All the animals in groups fed with standard food and water during the three week trial. To induce experimental diabetes; a single dose (60 mg/kg) of STZ were applied i.p. to rats in diabetes and diabetes+vanadium groups. After the formation of diabetes in diabetes +vanadium and vanadium groups, 0,3 mg/ml of vanadium (IV) chloride were added the rat's drinking water for three weeks. In the study however serum glucose, HbA1c, triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL levels were found significantly lower in diabetic+vanadium group, the levels of serum insulin and HDL levels were found higher than the diabetic group,. No differences were determined between the two groups in VLDL levels. In this study, the application of vanadium (IV) chloride in diabetic rats showed that vanadium acting as insülin analog lowering blood glucose and decreasing HbA1c levels and changing lipid profile. With the light of the data obtained from the study, it is considered that vanadium (IV) chloride can be used in the treatment of insulin resistance and diabetes in the following years.