Objective: The present study was designed to evaluate whether long-term resveratrol administration has beneficial effects on the metabolic control and oxidative stress in diabetic rats.
Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: normal control, diabetic control, normal treated with resveratrol, and diabetic treated with resveratrol. Diabetes was induced by injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg; i.p.), fifteen minutes after the administration of nicotinamide (110 mg/kg; i.p.) in 12 h fasted rats.
Results: Four-month oral resveratrol administration (5 mg/kg/day) significantly attenuated the elevated levels of the blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, total protein, albumin, urea, creatinine, and 8-isoprostane in diabetic rats. Moreover, resveratrol administration to diabetic rats improved the reduced levels of glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, and the antioxidant enzymes activities (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase). No significant differences were observed in the activities of plasma aminotransferases (ALT and AST) and insulin levels between diabetic rats treated with resveratrol and diabetic controls.
Conclusion: The results suggest that chronic resveratrol administration is safe and effective, and may be considered as a beneficial therapeutic compound in diabetes.