Preclinical study of vitamin D deficiency in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome in rats

S.K. Mahjoub, M.A.A. Sattar Ahmad, F.O. Kamel, M. Alseini, L.M. Khan

King Fahad General Hospital, Ministry of Health, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. lmkhan@kau.edu.sa

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• Metabolism
• Pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact of vitamin D deficiency (VD-) in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MetS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Models of (VD-) and (MetS) were induced in male Wister rats by dividing into four groups, group-I for the development of (VD-) by intraperitoneal injection of paricalcitol for 3 weeks, group II for (MetS) model by adding 10% fructose to their drinking water for 8 weeks, the group III for induction of combined (VD- + MetS) and group-IV as a control. Ultimately, the parameters of (VD-) and (MetS) were assessed at zero time and after 8 weeks.

RESULTS: Both (VD-) and (MetS) groups alone displayed a remarkable enhancement of blood pressure, glucose and insulin levels, triglycerides, cholesterol, and low-density lipoproteins with a reduction of high-density lipoproteins. Additionally, all distinguishing features of obesity were substantially increased. Nevertheless, the combined group (VD-+MetS) demonstrated an expeditious and substantial increase in all the aforesaid parameters compared to the (VD-) and (MetS) groups alone.

CONCLUSIONS: The hallmark of this study, reinforces a new frontier of awareness of the deleterious effect of (VD-) on each component of (MetS). Eventually, supplementation of vitamin D can circumvent the elements of (MetS) and needs further validation by determination of (VD-) molecular pathway on the parameters of (MetS).

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