Protective effect of chromium and ITK formulation in reducing arsenic induced changes in cardiac antioxidant status and serum lipid profiles in obese diabetic rats

Present study was designed to evaluate the effect of pre-exposure to arsenic and chromium either alone or in combination on serum lipid profile and cardiac antioxidant status in obese diabetic rats. Intra-peritoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in high fat diet-induced obese rats was used for developing type-2 diabetes. Some animals were pre-exposed to arsenic and/or chromium either alone or in combination for 90 days before injecting STZ. To evaluate the therapeutic potential of ITK formulation, animals from certain groups were treated with ITK for 60 days after induction of diabetes and pre-exposed to these metallic pollutants either alone or in combination. Pre-exposure to arsenic significantly (p<0.05) lowered the HDL level with corresponding increase in LDL level in the obese diabetic rats while chromium preexposure did not produce any change in these lipid profiles. No change in serum triglyceride level was observed. Pre-exposure to arsenic significantly decreased the cardiac level of SOD and catalase as compared to obese diabetic rats. On the other hand, pre-exposure to chromium either alone or in combination with arsenic did not further worsen the cardiac level of SOD, catalase, GPx and GST. Pre-exposure to arsenic significantly increased the LPO level in cardiac tissue. Unlike arsenic, pre-exposure to chromium either alone or in combination with arsenic did not further increase the LPO level in obese diabetic rats. Oral administration of ITK also produced the beneficial effect by reducing arsenic-induced adverse effect on cardiac antioxidant status as well as on serum lipid profile. In conclusion, ITK and chromium have therapeutic potential to reduce arsenic-induced adverse effect in obese diabetic rats.