The effects of natural nano-sized clinoptilolite and metformin on the levels of serum glucose, lipid profile, and minerals in rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Natural nano-sized Clinoptilolite (NCLN) as a conventional treatment for Type 2 diabetes mellitus may reduce glucose concentration and improve levels of minerals and lipid profile (LP). Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of NCLN with Metformin (Met) on fasting blood glucose (FBG), LP, levels of the several minerals, and body weight (BW) in rats with high-fat-diet (HFD)/Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. Methods: In this experimental study, 33 male Wistar rats were divide into four groups of A) healthy (n = 6), B) diabetic: (1) NCLN (n = 9) 2% of food, (2) diabetic receiving Met (n = 9) 100 mg/kg BW/day and (3) diabetic control (DC) (n = 9). The diabetic subgroups were fed with an HFD for one month and injected with a single dose of intra-peritoneal STZ (35 mg/kg BW). At the end of the 7th week, FBG, insulin, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), LP, and serum levels of some minerals were evaluated. Results: There were no significant differences in FBS, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) among the groups, however, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) level was significantly higher in the DM (32.92 ± 1.14) and NCLN (32.63 ± 0.73) groups in comparison with the DC group (31.64 ± 0.78) (P = 0.01). The mean score of Cu level in the DM group was significantly different from that in the DC group (2.15 ± 0.48 vs. 1.54 ± 0.21; P = 0.03). Moreover, Met significantly increased serum level of Ca as compared to the DC group (86.65 ± 10.03; P = 0.01). Also, treatment with Met favorably prevented severe weight loss until the last week of treatment. Conclusions: Natural nano-sized Clinoptilolite and/or Met did not significantly affect levels of serum glucose, minerals, and lipid profile, but a significant increase in HDL-c was observed as a result of NCLN and Metformin treatment, and Cu and Ca levels increased only in the Metformin group.