Vitamin C may be beneficial in the prevention of paracetamol-induced renal damage.
BACKGROUND
There is no specific treatment for paracetamol-induced renal damage. Vitamin C is an outstanding chain-breaking antioxidant and a free radical scavenger. The present study was undertaken to determine whether large doses of vitamin C are useful in the treatment of paracetamol-induced renal damage.


METHODS
Renal injury was induced in rats by the administration of 1 g/kg body weight paracetamol intraperitoneally. Some rats received intraperitoneal injections of vitamin C (250, 500, or 1000 mg/kg body wt) at 1.5 h, 6 h, 9 h, or 16 h after the administration of paracetamol, and the rats were killed 24 h after the administration of paracetamol.


RESULTS
Renal injury was accompanied by a decrease in nonprotein thiol and protein thiol in the kidneys of paracetamol-treated rats. The administration of vitamin C to the paracetamol-treated rats prevented renal damage either completely or partially. Lower doses of vitamin C were beneficial in the prevention of paracetamol-induced renal injury when administered early and higher doses were beneficial when administered later. In the paracetamol-treated rats that responded to vitamin C, renal nonprotein thiol level and protein thiol were restored almost completely. Interestingly, a highly significant inverse correlation was obtained between renal nonprotein thiol level and plasma creatinine.


CONCLUSIONS
Megadoses of vitamin C may be beneficial in the treatment of paracetamol-induced renal damage. The mechanism of protection by vitamin C appears to be the regeneration of nonprotein thiol.
Abraham
Premila
P
Department of Biochemistry, Christian Medical College, Bagayam, Vellore 632002, Tamil Nadu, India. premilaabraham@yahoo.com
D000082:Acetaminophen; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D015996:Survival Rate
D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D000082:Acetaminophen; D003404:Creatinine; D001205:Ascorbic Acid