An Antiatherogenic Role for Folic Acid in Experimental Diabetes

Abstract

The effect of folic acid on lipoprotein lipase and various lipid fractions was studied in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. An enhanced plasma and hepatic lipoprotein lipase activity has been observed in folate supplemented diabetic animals. The proatherogenic triglycerides and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol+low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were found to be elevated in the diabetic groups, and folic acid supplementation lowered these levels. A significant increase in the antiatherogenic high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels was observed in the diabetic rats on folate supplementation. The ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol of 3.93±1.56 observed in the diabetic groups was lowered to 2.04±0.25 on folate supplementation. These observations suggest a role for folic acid as an antiatherogenic agent in experimentally induced diabetes.