Background & aim: Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia through enzymatic and non-enzymatic processes causes induction of spontaneous oxidation of glucose and, by stimulating the production of active oxygen and nitrogen components, leading to oxidative stress. Thus, according to the antioxidant effects of atorvastatin and zinc oxide, the aim of this study  was to investigate the combined effect of atorvastatin and zinc oxide on oxidative stress and antioxidants in diabetic rats.

Methods: In the present experimental study, 50 female Wistar rats were selected randomly and divided into five groups of 10 (n=10) including : normal control (NC), diabetic control (DC), diabetic rats treated with, atorvastatin (20mg/kg daily-orally) (DA), zinc oxide (30mg/kg daily-rally) (DZ) and combination of each drug in half-dose (daily-orally) (DAZ), were each treated separately. Diabetic rats were induced by injection of 60 mg per kg of body weight of streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneally.All treatments were dissolved in distilled water for four weeks. After completion of treatment (forth week), weight and blood sugar were measured and then compared with data measured  on weight and blood sugar in the weeks before the start  and second week of the study. The lipid peroxidation level (MDA), the activity of catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) as an indicator of oxidative stress were measured in the hippocampus. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey tests.

Results: Zinc oxide and atorvastatin alone rather than decrease blood sugar, reduced the complications of diabetes, including oxidative damage and combination  of both reduced levels of diabetic complications led to the significant decrease in blood glucose levels and inhibiting the animal lose weight.

Conclusion: It seemed that the combination of atorvastatin and zinc oxide have synergistic benefits to control blood sugar levels and oxidative stress, and also resulting in control  of diabetes.