Effect of N-Acetylcysteine on Dyslipidemia and Carbohydrate Metabolism in STZ-Induced Diabetic Rats.

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is characterized by insulin-deficient production leading to hyperglycemia, which is associated with diabetic complications such as cardiovascular diseases. Antioxidants have been proving a good alternative to diabetic complications, with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) having antioxidant characteristics. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of NAC on the lipid profile and the atherogenic index (AI) in streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetic rats.

Method: 32 male Wistar rats (60 days of age) weighting ±250 g were randomly distributed into four groups ( = 8): CTRL: control rats; CTRL+NAC: control rats treated with NAC; DM: diabetic rats; DM+NAC: diabetic rats treated with NAC. T1DM was induced using STZ (60 mg/kg, ip; single dose), and NAC (25 mg/kg/day) was administrated by gavage, for 37 days. The animals received chow and water . After the experimental period, blood and cardiac tissue samples were collected to analyze energetic metabolism, lipid profile, and AI.

Results: NAC decreased ( < 0.01) glycemia, energy intake, carbohydrate, and protein consumption in diabetic rats (DM+NAC), when compared with DM, while the alimentary efficiency was improved ( < 0.01) in treated diabetic rats (DM+NAC). Diabetic rats treated with NAC decreased ( < 0.01) lipid profile and AI in diabetic rats (DM+NAC) when compared to DM.

Conclusion: NAC improves lipid profile and decreases AI in STZ-induced diabetic rats.