Hematological alterations in diabetic rats - Role of adipocytokines and effect of citrus flavonoids.

Dysfunction in adipocytes is associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes-associated anemia has been reported due to the increased non-enzymatic glycosylation of RBC membrane proteins, which correlates with hyperglycemia. The present study was hypothesized to assess the effect of citrus flavonoids on hematological parameters and adipose tissue interleukin-6 and adiponectin in type 2 diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by feeding rats with a high fat diet for 2 weeks followed by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. An oral dose of 50 mg/kg hesperidin or naringin was daily given for 4 weeks after diabetes induction. By the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected and were immediately used for determination of haematological parameters. Expression levels of adiponectin and interleukin-6 were assayed in adipose tissue samples. Both hesperidin and naringin significantly improved the levels of erythrocytes, leukocytes and their functional indices. Similarly, supplementation with either compound significantly ameliorated the declined adipose tissue adiponectin expression in conjunction with down-regulated interleukin-6. The findings of the present study indicated that hesperidin and naringin exert protection to diabetes-associated anemia in type 2 diabetic rats. This could be due to attenuation of proinflammatory cytokine production and stimulation of adiponectin expression.