Aldehyde and xanthine oxidase activities in tissues of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: effects of vitamin E and selenium supplementation.

Effects of vitamin E and selenium supplementation on aldehyde oxidase (AO) and xanthine oxidase (XO) activities and antioxidant status in liver, kidney, and heart of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were examined. AO and XO activities increased significantly after induction of diabetes in rats. Following oral vitamin E (300 mg/kg) and sodium selenite (0.5 mg/kg) intake once a day for 4 weeks, XO activity decreased significantly. AO activity decreased significantly in liver, but remained unchanged in kidney and heart of vitamin E- and selenium-treated rats compared to the diabetic rats. Total antioxidants status, paraoxonase-1 (PON1) and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activities significantly decreased in the diabetic rats compared to the controls, while a higher fasting plasma glucose level was observed in the diabetic animals. The glutathione peroxidase activity remained statistically unchanged. Malondialdehyde and oxidized low-density lipoprotein levels were higher in the diabetic animals; however, these values were significantly reduced following vitamin E and selenium supplementation. In summary, both AO and XO activities increase in STZ-induced diabetic rats, and vitamin E and selenium supplementation can reduce these activities. The results also indicate that administration of vitamin E and selenium has hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, and antioxidative effects. It decreases tissue damages in diabetic rats, too.