Abstract
Seventy rats were separated into five groups: one group of 12 was used as a control and received a purified diet, and four groups of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, totalling 58, were fed the same diet without or with selenium (Se) supplementation. Of the noncontrol rats, 14 were without supplementation (Group D), 14 were fed a Se-rich yeast diet (i.e., selenion) (Group DSel), 14 received selenomethionine (Group DSm), and 16 received selenomethionine + tocopherol acetate (Group DSmE). Supplementation with Se in all groups was 0.99 μmole/100 g of diet and with tocopherol acetate was 0.145 μmole/100 g. All diabetic rats were mildly balanced by insulin.
After 24 weeks of diet, plasma glucose tended to decrease in diabetic Sesupplemented groups DSmE>DSm>DSel versus Group D. In DSm and DSmE groups, plasma lipid peroxides also decreased compared with Group D, but this decrease reached significance only for DSmE (P<0.01 for both TBARS and conjugated dienes). Plasma triglycerides also decreased in DSm and DSmE groups versus Group D (P<0.01; P<0.05, respectively). At the same time, Se increased significantly in kidneys of Groups DSel and DSm versus D and more weakly in Group DSmE, but in this case was associated with a large increase of vitamin E. These beneficial effects of selenium supplement and more so of selenium combined with vitamin E were associated with a protection of kidneys in diabetic rats which found expression in a significant correction of renal hyperfiltration (P<0.05) and in a diminution of the number and severity of glomerular lesions (P<0.0005). [P.S.E.B.M. 1996, Vol 211]
