The aim. To comprehensively assess the effect of amino acids on lipid profile indicators, atherogenic index, body mass index, and Lee index in rats with experimental diabetes mellitus types 1 (DM1) and 2 (DM2).

Materials and methods. DM1 was induced in old male Wistar rats by a single administration of 45 mg/kg streptozotocin. In rats with DM2, insulin resistance was first induced (high-fat mixed feed for 8 weeks), after which 30 mg/kg streptozotocin was administered once. After 6 weeks, animals with DM were divided into 3 subgroups: without amino acid administration, rats with L-arginine and with N-acetyl-L-cysteine.

Results. In rats with DM1, there was an increase in total cholesterol (by 50 %), triglycerides (3.3 times) and low-density lipoproteins (1.9 times), which led to a significant increase in the atherogenic index (3.1 times). In rats with DM2, dyslipidemia was more expressed: the atherogenic index exceeded the values of DM1 by 58 %, and the HDL / LDL ratio was disturbed. The administration of L-arginine improved the lipid profile in both groups, significantly reducing the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL, as well as reducing the atherogenic index. N-acetyl-L-cysteine also had a positive effect on the lipid profile, in particular, it reduced LDL, but its effect was less pronounced.

Conclusions. Dyslipidemia in DM1 is characterized by hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia with an increase in low-density lipoproteins and a moderate increase in the atherogenic index, accompanied by a decrease in body mass index and the Lee index. While in DM2, more pronounced atherogenic dyslipidemia is observed, which is manifested in a significant decrease in high-density lipoproteins, an increase in low-density lipoproteins with a violation of their ratio against the background of severe hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and an increase in the atherogenic index. The body mass index and the Lee index do not change compared to control values. The introduction of L-arginine significantly improves the lipid profile in both types of diabetes, normalizing the number and ratio of lipoproteins, reducing cholesterol, triglycerides and the atherogenic index, without affecting the body mass index and the Lee index. The effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine on the lipid profile is positive, but less pronounced compared to L-arginine, causing a decrease in low-density lipoproteins with restoration of the fractional ratio in both types of diabetes, and triglycerides only in rats with type 1 diabetes, but has no significant effect on the atherogenic index, body mass index and Lee index.