Antidiabetic effect of glucosaminic acid-cobalt (II) chelate in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in mice

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to assess the in vivo ability of glucosaminic acid-cobalt (II) chelate to reduce glycemia. METHODS Different concentrations of chelate solution were administrated to mice with diabetes induced by streptozotocin. RESULTS Daily oral administration of chelate solution 0.4 mL at various concentrations (0.32-0.4 g/mL) led to reduction in water intake by the diabetic mice after 5 days of treatment, with a subsequent reduction in glucose levels observed 2 weeks later. Daily food intake was related to both chelate concentration as well as glycemia reduction. The food intake of mice treated with glucosaminic acid-cobalt (II) chelate solution was 1.5-fold that of untreated mice. CONCLUSION Glucosaminic acid-cobalt chelate was effective as an antidiabetes agent; its efficacy was proportional to treatment period .The chelated form expressed much less toxicity compared to cobalt only, and stimulated subsequent food intake after daily administration.