Dietary diphenyl diselenide reduces the STZ-induced toxicity

Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. Selenium supplementation has some benefits in experimental models of diabetes mellitus. This study evaluated whether dietary diphenyl diselenide, a simple synthetic organoselenium compound with antioxidant properties, reduces the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced toxicity. STZ-induced diabetic rats were fed with either standard and diphenyl diselenide (10 ppm) supplemented diets. In experimental trials, dietary diphenyl diselenide significantly decreased mortality rate (p < 0.05) induced by STZ treatment. No correlation between this effect and glycemic levels were found. Diphenyl diselenide intake also promoted an increase in vitamin C, –SH levels (liver, kidney and blood) and in catalase (liver and kidney) activity, which were decreased in STZ-treated rats. In enzyme assays, diphenyl diselenide supplementation caused a significant improvement in platelets NTPDase and 5′-nucleotidase activities in STZ-induced diabetic rats when compared to the control and diabetic groups (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, this supplementation did not modify the inhibition induced by STZ in δ-ALA-D activity. Our findings suggest that diphenyl diselenide compound showed beneficial effects against the development of diabetes by exhibiting antioxidant properties.