A role for atorvastatin and insulin combination in protecting from liver injury in a model of type 2 diabetes with hyperlipidemia

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major complication linked with the metabolic syndrome associated with dyslipidemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Impact of type 2 diabetes with hyperlipidemia in NAFLD has to be established, as well as the utility of commonly prescribed anti-diabetic and lipid-lowering agents in improving liver injury markers. Genetic type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats were fed with a high-fat diet to test hepatic effects of type 2 diabetes with hyperlipidemia and the effect of atorvastatin and insulin, individually and in combination, in systemic and hepatic inflammatory and oxidative stress markers. High-fat diet aggravated fasting glycemia, systemic and liver lipids, and inflammatory and oxidative stress markers. Individual treatments improved glycemic and lipid profiles, but failed to improve inflammatory markers, whereas insulin was able to reduce liver oxidative stress parameters. Combination of insulin and atorvastatin further improved glycemic and lipid profiles and decreased circulating C-reactive protein levels and liver inflammatory and oxidative stress markers. Insulin and atorvastatin combination leads to better glycaemic and lipid profiles and to better protection against liver inflammation and oxidative stress, giving a superior level of liver protection in type 2 diabetic with hyperlipidemia.