The effect of squalene on lipid profile and some oxidative biomarkers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Background: Squalene, as an isoprene, is one of the components of amaranth oil and makes up about 8% of this oil. Squalene has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that have been considered in many studies. In people with uncontrolled diabetes, there is an increase in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) alongside a decrease in high-density lipoproteins (HDL).According to studies, squalene can be useful in lowering total cholesterol and triacylglycerol.Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether squalene has an effect on lipid profile and a number of oxidative biomarkers in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods: In the present study, 30 healthy volunteers were selected as the control group and 120 volunteers with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were selected. Subjects with diabetes were randomly divided into 4 groups. Group 1 was untreated with squalene and groups 3, 4, and 5 were treated with different doses of squalene for 84 days. Lipid profiles and oxidant biomarkers were examined on days 1, 14, 28, 56, and 84 according to the relevant protocols in all groups.Results: Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed between control and diabetic groups in the study of cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, HDL, very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL), and malondialdehyde. There was a significant difference between the studied groups in the levels of parameters expressed in some different doses and days.At the levels of the parameters expressed in some doses and different days, a significant difference was observed between the groups treated and untreated with squalene.Conclusion: This study shows that squalene as a bioactive compound can be effective to manage certain symptoms of diabetics including HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, and VLDL. From our findings, we observed that squalene consumption over the duration of 84 days resulted in increased levels of HDL in diabetic patients. It also resulted in decreased levels of total cholesterol, LDL, and VLDL in diabetic patients.  Keywords: Squalene, lipid profile, oxidative biomarkers, diabetes mellitus