Synergistic Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Oral-Hypoglycemic Drug on Lipid Normalization through Modulation of Hepatic Gene Expression in High Fat Diet with Low Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Type 2 diabetes mellitus, which an outcome of impaired insulin action and its secretion, is concomitantly associated with lipid abnormalities. The study was designed to evaluate the combinational effect of omega-3 fatty acids (flax and fish oil) and glibenclamide on abnormal lipid profiles, increased blood glucose, and impaired liver and kidney functions in a high fat diet with low streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, including its probable mechanism of action. The male Wistar rats (n = 48) were distributed into eight groups. All animal groups except the healthy received a high fat diet (HFD) for 90 days. Further, diabetes was developed by low dose STZ (35 mg/kg). Diabetic animals received, omega-3 fatty acids (500 mg/kg), along with glibenclamide (0.25 mg/kg). Both flax and fish oil intervention decreased (p <= 0.001) serum triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein and elevated (p <= 0.001) high density lipoprotein levels in diabetic rats. Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein level was decreased (p <= 0.001) in fish oil-treated rats. However, it remained unaffected in the flax oil treatment group. Both flax and fish oil intervention downregulate the expression of fatty acid metabolism genes, transcription factors (sterol regulatory element-binding proteins-1c and nuclear factor-kappa beta), and their regulatory genes i.e., acetyl-coA carboxylase alpha, fatty acid synthase, and tumor necrosis factors-alpha. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma gene expression was upregulated (p <= 0.001) in the fish oil treatment group. Whereas, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 and fatty acid binding protein gene expression were upregulated (p <= 0.001) in both flax and fish oil intervention group.