At 6 wk of age, both ZDF (n?=?30) and ZL (n?=?30) animals were subdivided into three groups: control (C) (n?=?10), vehicle (V) (n?=?10), and melatonin-treated (M) (10 mg/kg/d; n?=?10) rats for a 6-wk period. At the end of treatment period, plasma mineral levels were measured by flame (Cu, Zn, and Fe), electrothermal (Mn), and hydride generation (Se) atomic absorption spectrometry.
ZDF rats had significantly higher Cu, Fe, and Mn plasma levels than did ZL rats (
The higher mean plasma Cu, Fe, and Mn levels in the ZDF group are related to the enhanced oxidative stress in diabetes and obesity. Melatonin administration significantly enhanced plasma Se levels in both groups (M-ZDF and M-ZL). This is the first study to report that melatonin treatment increases plasma Se levels.