Behavioural and biochemical changes after simultaneous and post-treatment of vitamin A and D on cadmium toxicity

In the present study, an investigation was undertaken to assess the protective efficacy in cadmium toxicity of vitamins administered simultaneously as well as post-treatment. Rats were treated with cadmium 1 mg/kg body weight (bw) powdered vitamin A chewable tablet 500 IU/kg bw/day and injectable vitamin D(3) (made into a suspension with gum tragacanth in 100 ml distilled water) 100 IU/kg bw/day, mixed with powdered pellet feed and fed to experimental animals. Spontaneous motor activity and Rota Rod Endurance time was recorded after both simultaneous (for 21 days) and post-treatment (42 days). Vitamin treated animals by themselves behaved like controls but attenuated the cadmium effect when given Cd simultaneously or as post-treatment. While the biochemical changes were assayed, vitamins which did not have any influence on their own, given simultaneously and as post-treatment, antagonized the cadmium effect on heart, liver tissues and serum. Both simultaneous and post-cadmium and -vitamin treatments significantly increased the activities of the enzymes aspartic amino transferase, alanine aminotransferase, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase in tissues and serum. Simultaneous and post-vitamin treatment with Cd had an effect of bringing back the activity of the enzymes closer to control values. These data suggest that treatment with vitamin A and D can minimise the Cd effect when given to the population exposed to Cd.