Effect of Thiamine on Glycemic Control in Diabetic Rats

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of high dose thiamine on blood glucose level in diabetic rats. Study Design: Experimental Interventional study. Place and duration: Animal House/Laboratory of the National Reference Laboratory for Poultry Diseases (NRLPD) /Biochemistry Department, Army Medical College. Rawalpindi, from December 2006 to January 2007. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 120, 12 weeks old male albino rats of Sprague Dawley Strains randomly divided into 4 groups of 30 rats each. Group I comprised of 30 normal rats, on normal (regular) diet. t. Group II comprised of 30 normal rats, on thiamine supplemented diet. Group III comprised of 30 diabetic rats, on normal (regular) diet. Group IV comprised of 30 diabetic rats, on thiamine supplemented diet. Out of 120 rats, 60 were made diabetic by injecting Alloxan. Blood glucose levels were measured by applying glucose oxidase method. Determination of total HbA1c was performed by diagnostic Kits. Results: Significant difference was found in the blood glucose levels (P 0.05) but no significant difference was noticed in the value of glycosylated Hb (HbA1c) (P 0.05) of all the 4 groups. Conclusion: Thiamine has very important role in glucose metabolism in diabetics therefore it can be used as adjuvant but cannot be used as a substitute for standard anti diabetic drugs.