Preventive and therapeutic effects of molecular iodine in a model of diabetes mellitus induced by streptozotocin

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a multifactorial condition that involves oxidative alterations and dysbiosis of the gut microbiota associated with an imbalance in glucose metabolism. Therefore, the need to develop integrative therapies that are both effective and have fewer side effects has become evident in recent years. Molecular iodine (I₂) has antioxidant effects in preclinical hyperglycemic models. The present work analyzes the preventive and therapeutic effects of oral I₂ supplementation in a DM model induced by low doses of streptozotocin (STZ). Male CD1 mice (12 weeks old) were divided into the following groups: control, STZ (20 mg/kg/day, i.p., for 5 days), I₂ (0.2 mg/Kg in drinking water), preventive (STZ + I₂), and therapeutic (I₂ supplementation from day 35 to day 90; STZ + I_2(Ther)). The supplementation with I₂ prevented and normalized hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia associated with STZ, preserving pancreatic, liver, muscle, and adipose tissue morphology and normalizing inflammatory gene induction (TLR2, TLR4, NFkβ, TNFα) in several tissues. Furthermore, compared to the STZ group, the presence of I₂ favored a more significant abundance of beneficial bacteria that support the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier and higher α-diversity. In conclusion, the I₂ supplement has preventive and therapeutic effects, reducing oxidative damage and reestablishing microbiota diversity following STZ exposure.