Vitamin E reduces lipid peroxidation in experimental hepatotoxicity in rats.
OBJECTIVE
Lipid peroxidation is believed to be involved in the pathophysiology of a number of diseases and in the process of aging. This study investigates the effects of dietary supplementation with vitamin E (20 g/kg diet of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl succinate for 3 weeks) on both non-enzymatic and enzymatic lipid peroxidation in experimental rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity (2.5 mL/kg body).


METHODS
Plasma, urine and liver samples from control rats (n = 6), CCl4-treated rats (n = 6), and rats supplemented with vitamin E prior to CCl4 treatment (n = 8) were collected. Non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation induced by free radicals was investigated by measurement of a major F2-iso-prostane, 8-iso-prostaglandin F2 alpha (8-iso-PGF2 alpha). Cyclooxygenase-catalyzed enzymatic lipid peroxidation was measured with a major PGF2 alpha metabolite, 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-prostaglandin F2 alpha (15-K-DH-PGF2 alpha). Malondialdehyde and antioxidants in plasma were also quantified.


RESULTS
CCl4 treatment alone resulted in significantly higher levels of plasma, urinary and liver 8-iso-PGF2 alpha, and of plasma and urinary 15-K-DH-PGF2 alpha compared to controls. Rats supplemented with vitamin E prior to CCl4 treatment had significantly lower levels of urinary and liver 8-iso-PGF2 alpha, urinary 15-K-DH-PGF2 alpha, and plasma malondialdehyde than rats treated with CCl4 alone. However, plasma 8-iso-PGF2 alpha and plasma 15-K-DH-PGF2 alpha were not affected by vitamin E supplementation.


CONCLUSIONS
Thus, both non-enzymatic and enzymatic lipid peroxidation during experimental hepatic oxidative injury were suppressed by dietary vitamin E supplementation in rats.
Södergren
E
E
Section for Geriatrics/Clinical Nutrition Research, PO Box 609, 75125 Uppsala, Sweden. samar.basu@geriatrik.uu.se
Cederberg
J
J
Vessby
B
B
Basu
S
S
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D028441:F2-Isoprostanes; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000975:Antioxidants; D028441:F2-Isoprostanes; D014810:Vitamin E; C008228:15-keto-13,14-dihydroprostaglandin F2alpha; C075750:8-epi-prostaglandin F2alpha; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D015237:Dinoprost; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride