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Abstract

Background: Metabolic derangements and oxidative stress due to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) has deleterious effects on skeletal muscle contractile functions. This study aimed to see the effects of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) on oxidative stress and contractile functions of fast muscles in type 2 diabetic male Sprague Dawley rats. Methods: This quasi experimental study was conducted at Department of Physiology, CMH Multan Institute of Medical Sciences, Multan from Sep 2022 to Feb 2023. Ninety adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 equal groups (n=30). Group A (control group) Group B (Diabetic group) and Group C (ALA-treated group). Diabetes was induced in group B and C by injecting Streptozocin (35 mg/Kg body weight) intraperitoneally in the lower-right quadrant of the abdomen after 2 weeks. After 4 weeks, extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles were dissected and contractile functions assessed through iWorx data acquisition unit. Serum Malondialdehyde (MDA) and plasma glucose levels were estimated through cardiac blood sampling. Results: ALA group showed improvement in maximum fused tetanic tension, fatigue and recovery from fatigue protocol as compare to the diabetic group. No significant difference among all the groups was found in maximum tension and time to relax to peak twitch tension. Serum MDA levels were found significantly deceased in ALA group as compared to the diabetic group. Conclusion: ALA supplementation decreases oxidative stress which improves contractile force and delays fatigue in fast muscles of diabetic rats.
Pak J Physiol 2025;21(3):30–3, DOI: https://doi.org/10.69656/pjp.v21i3.1765