Data from: Coenzyme Q10 ameliorates hepatoprotective effect of metformin in experimentally induced type 2 diabetes mellitus in rats: A functional and histological study

Management of metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease
(MASLD) remains a significant clinical challenge. This study evaluated the
efficacy of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) as an adjuvant therapy to metformin in
the treatment of MASLD using an experimentally induced type 2 diabetes
(T2D) rat model. T2D was induced in 18 rats through a high-fat diet
combined with a low dose of streptozotocin. The diabetic rats were then
randomly allocated into three equal groups: untreated, metformin-treated,
and metformin/CoQ10-treated. An additional six rats maintained on a normal
chow diet served as the control group. Development of MASLD was confirmed
through biochemical assays and histopathological analyses. Liver histology
and electron microscopy were performed, along with immunohistochemistry
for BAX and CD68 markers. Our results demonstrated that T2D rats exhibited
impaired glucose and lipid profiles, elevated liver enzymes, and reduced
adiponectin levels. These alterations were accompanied by hepatic
oxidative stress, histopathological features of MASLD, fibrosis, and
increased expression of BAX and CD68. Treatment with either metformin
monotherapy or metformin/CoQ10 combination therapy significantly
ameliorated the biochemical and histopathological manifestations of MASLD,
as well as reduced the expression of BAX and CD68 in the liver.
Importantly, combined metformin/CoQ10 therapy exerted a stronger
hepatoprotective effect than metformin alone.