Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Metformin and Vitamin D₃ Combination in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus.
- 1Department of Pharmacy, University of Information Technology and Sciences, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- 2Department of Pharmacy, Jagannath University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- 3Department of Pharmacy, East West University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Abstract
Background
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterised by hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, hepatic dysfunction, and loss of pancreatic β-cells. Vitamin D₃ (D₃) may influence glucose and lipid metabolism and has been investigated for its potential complementary effects when administered with metformin (MT). In the present study, the anti-diabetic activity of D₃ alone and when combined with MT was evaluated in Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic mice.Methods
Swiss albino mice were made diabetic using STZ (45 mg/kg) injected intraperitoneally for 3 days. Diabetic mice were treated with MT (250 mg/kg), D₃ (100 μg/kg), or MT + D₃ for 21 days. The fasting blood glucose, serum lipid profile, body weight, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and pancreatic histopathology were assessed. The data were analysed by ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test, and a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results
The diabetic STZ mice showed sustained hyperglycaemia, weight loss, dyslipidaemia, increased ALT activity and degeneration of the islets of Langerhans. MT and D₃ treatments were associated with improvements in glycaemic control, and the combination treatment showed the greatest effect. Combined treatment was found to lower the level of total cholesterol (93.06 ± 2.89 mg/dL), LDL (28.66 mg/dL), triglycerides (120.33 ± 2.10 mg/dL) and ALT activity (52.60 ± 3.05 IU/L) and increase HDL (40.33 ± 2.10 mg/dL) when compared with diabetic controls. Moreover, the MT + D₃ group exhibited significant changes in the total cholesterol/HDL and LDL/HDL ratio and preserved the histoarchitecture of the pancreas.Conclusion
Metformin and vitamin D₃, administered individually or in combination, were associated with improvements in several diabetes-related metabolic parameters. The combination group showed greater observed metabolic outcomes than either treatment alone in STZ-induced diabetic mice. Further adequately powered preclinical and clinical studies are required to determine the therapeutic relevance of this combination.
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BibTeX
@article{azam2026exploring,
title = {{Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Metformin and Vitamin D₃ Combination in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus.}},
author = {Md Ferdaus Azam and Md Abu Bakar Siddique Jami and Nafis Yamin Suprio and Md Ismail Kabir and Sabrina Tasnim Oishi and Jannatul Ferdous Ekra and Nusrat Islam and Samia Zaman and Md Mofazzal Hossain and Md Al Amin},
journal = {Endocrinology, diabetes \& metabolism},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1002/edm2.70384},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42967578},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Metformin and Vitamin D₃ Combination in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus.
AU - Md Ferdaus Azam
AU - Md Abu Bakar Siddique Jami
AU - Nafis Yamin Suprio
AU - Md Ismail Kabir
AU - Sabrina Tasnim Oishi
AU - Jannatul Ferdous Ekra
AU - Nusrat Islam
AU - Samia Zaman
AU - Md Mofazzal Hossain
AU - Md Al Amin
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/01
JO - Endocrinology, diabetes & metabolism
DO - 10.1002/edm2.70384
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42967578
AB - Background Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterised by hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, hepatic dysfunction, and loss of pancreatic β-cells. Vitamin D₃ (D₃) may influence glucose and lipid metabolism and has been investigated for its potential complementary effects when administered with metformin (MT). In the present study, the anti-diabetic activity of D₃ alone and when combined with MT was evaluated in Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic mice.Methods Swiss albino mice were made diabetic using STZ (45 mg/kg) injected intraperitoneally for 3 days. Diabetic mice were treated with MT (250 mg/kg), D₃ (100 μg/kg), or MT + D₃ for 21 days. The fasting blood glucose, serum lipid profile, body weight, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and pancreatic histopathology were assessed. The data were analysed by ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test, and a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results The diabetic STZ mice showed sustained hyperglycaemia, weight loss, dyslipidaemia, increased ALT activity and degeneration of the islets of Langerhans. MT and D₃ treatments were associated with improvements in glycaemic control, and the combination treatment showed the greatest effect. Combined treatment was found to lower the level of total cholesterol (93.06 ± 2.89 mg/dL), LDL (28.66 mg/dL), triglycerides (120.33 ± 2.10 mg/dL) and ALT activity (52.60 ± 3.05 IU/L) and increase HDL (40.33 ± 2.10 mg/dL) when compared with diabetic controls. Moreover, the MT + D₃ group exhibited significant changes in the total cholesterol/HDL and LDL/HDL ratio and preserved the histoarchitecture of the pancreas.Conclusion Metformin and vitamin D₃, administered individually or in combination, were associated with improvements in several diabetes-related metabolic parameters. The combination group showed greater observed metabolic outcomes than either treatment alone in STZ-induced diabetic mice. Further adequately powered preclinical and clinical studies are required to determine the therapeutic relevance of this combination.
SN - 2398-9238
ER -