Evaluation of Anti Hyperlipidemic Effect of Zinc Sulfate Alone and in Combination with Atorvastatin in Diet Induced Hyperlipidemic Rats

Background: Hyperlipidemia a lipid disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It is a major contributor for developing cardiovascular diseases. Objective: To assess the antihyperlipidemic activity of zinc sulfate alone and in combination with atorvastatin in diet induced hyperlipidemic rats. Methods: Randomized clinical trial was conducted for 8 weeks in Post graduate Medical Institute, Lahore. Thirty -six healthy male albino rats weighing between 100-160mg were randomly divided into 6 groups each having 6 rats. Group A normal control (fed with rat chow) and Group B disease control (fed with high fat diet). Groups C,D,E and F, were experimental groups, fed with high fat diet during the initial four weeks to produce hyperlipidemia and during next four weeks, along with high fat diet (30 mg/kg zinc sulfate orally) was added to Group C, (40 mg/kg Atorvastatin orally) to Group D (30 mg/kg of zinc sulfate + 40 mg/kg atorvastatin) to Group E and (15 mg/kg zinc sulfate +20 mg/kg atorvastatin) to Group F. Blood samples were drawn at 0, 4 and 8 weeks and serum was assessed for lipid profile. Rats were sacrificed at the end of 8 weeks and liver samples examined for histopathological examination. Results: Disease control group showed significant rise in total cholesterol from 80.17±17.82 at 0 week to 177.17± 15.96, low density lipoprotein from 32.62±17.15 to 102.03±10.88, and triglycerides from 58.17±23.79 to 159.00±39.83 with a p-value of <0.05. All the experimental groups improved lipid profile compared to disease control group a p-value of <0.001. All experimental groups increased high density lipoprotein compared to disease control group, most significant increase was seen in group E (63.00±5.29) with a p-value of 0.010. Histopathological examination showed, 66.7% of rats in disease control group had severe steatosis. Among the experimental groups, Group D had 33.3 % rats while Group C, E, and F had no animal with severe steatosis. Conclusion: Zinc supplementation alone and in combination with atorvastatin has shown beneficial effects on lipid profile. Zinc sulfate also reduced the fatty alterations of hepatic architecture.