connective tissue is highly susceptible to imbalances induced by diabetes. Diabetes-related osteopenia, decreased bone strength etc. may be associated with altered metabolism of various collagens. although it is assumed that alterations in collagen amino acids (aa) may strongly affect protein properties and physiological functions, however, very limited evidences are present at the moment regarding aa composition of bone type I collagen and its relevance to abnormal availability of vitamins which are necessary for collagen synthesis in diabetes. We have tested whether nicotinamide (NAm) can influence type I collagen formation and aa composition as well as vitamins availability in diabetes. after 4 weeks of STz-induced diabetes (60 mg/ kg) male Wistar rats were injected for 2 weeks with/without Nam (200 mg/kg b. w.). acid extraction of type I collagen from the bones was performed with following stepwise salting out. The content of type I collagen after its acid extraction from the bones was estimated by the amounts of hydroxyproline. amino acids were assayed by cation exchange chromatography. Diabetes-associated changes in aa composition of type I collagen mainly affect those amino acids which are known to be involved in helix formation and cross-linking of the molecules. Diabetes was found to significantly reduce bone collagen contents of o- Pro, Gly, Ala, whereas Lys, his, arg, Glu, Thr, Leu, Phe contents were elevated (P < 0.05 bone collagen amino acids, vitamin c, vitamin B 3 , T ype 1 diabetes results from active immunemediated destruction of insulin-producing β-cells in the pancreas by T-cells and macrophages infiltrating the islets [1]. It is likely that many pathways may lead to autoimmune destruction of the islet β-cells and actual mechanism in each individual depends on genetics and environment [2].The results of numerous investigations clearly demonstrate that modern diabetes pharmacological treatment is unable to prevent completely diabetes complications among which cardiovascular disease and nephropathy have the highest levels of incidence and the poorest prognosis [3,4]. It is known that during this disease proteins are targets for numerous injuries and could have pathologically altered turnover rates.Connective tissue disturbances and especially qualitative changes of collagen synthesis always accompany these pathological processes [5]. Diabetes induces structural and functional changes of the extracellular matrix proteins in many tissues [6]. It could not be excluded that alterations in levels of bone collagen amino acids may contribute to diabetes.Processing and secretion of collagen was previously shown to be controlled by insulin at a post- [7]. Other authors demonstrated that the α2(I) collagen gene contains two functional promoters, and its expression in cells is regulated at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels [8]. On the other hand there were no evidences of qualitative changes in connective tissue collagens caused by lack of insulin. Diabetes-related connective tissue ch...