OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if ramipril, with or without simultaneous use of simvastatin, would be capable of reducing oxidative stress of streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. METHODS: The drugs were given to the diabetic rats for 2 weeks; oxidative stress was measured by dosage of total plasma antioxidant capacity (TRAP) and malondialdehyde (MDA). RESULTS: Ramipril, used alone, was capable of significantly increasing the antioxidative defenses of the diabetic rat; simvastatin, given alone or combined with ramipril in separate administrations, did not produce any significant effect on the oxidative stress; concomitant administration of ramipril and simvastatin significantly reduced the antioxidative plasmatic defenses of rats with chemically induced diabetes mellitus CONCLUSIONS: Our data corroborate the positive effect of ramipril upon plasma antioxidative defenses but did not confirm a possible beneficial effect of simvastatin in the model. More research is needed to clarify the paradoxal TRAP reduction verified with simultaneous administration of the drugs.
Ramipril; Simvastatin; Diabetes mellitus; Antioxidants
