Beneficial effects of sodium selenite on some serum biochemical parameters in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

The present study aimed to determine the possible protective effects of intraperitoneally administered sodium selenite for preventing diabetes in rats. Twenty-eight male albino rats were randomly divided into four equal groups of seven each: untreated control (G1), sodium selenite treated control (G2), untreated diabetic (G3), and sodium selenite-treated diabetic group (G4). Diabetes was induced by alloxan (150 mg/kg body weight) in groups G3 and G4 and rats were then treated with sodium selenite (5 μmol/kg body weight/day) for 4 weeks (G4). On day 28 after an overnight fasting, rats were killed and concentrations of serum glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, total lipid, urea, creatinine, uric acid, albumin and some enzymes activities: pancreatic lipase, glutamic oxalic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), Alkaline phosphatase(ALP) were also estimated. The administration of alloxan significantly increased serum glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, total lipid, urea, uric acid levels, pancreatic lipase, GOT, GPT and ALP activities, body weight gain and albumin level were significantly decreased. This alteration was restored back to near normal in diabetic rats intraperitoneal treated with sodium selenite in comparison to non treated diabetic animals. Serum creatinine concentration was normal in all groups. The study concludes that alloxan diabetes mellitus induced severe biochemical alliterations in the glucose, lipid profile concentrations, liver and kidney function markers and sodium selenite has shown protective effects preventing at least partially diabetic complications.