Effect of vitamin E supplementation on arsenic induced oxidative stress in goats

The present study was designed to assess whether supplementation of different levels of vitamin E to long-term arsenic exposed goats affords protection against the oxidative stress caused by the metalloid. Twenty-four crossbred lactating goats were distributed randomly into four groups (control, T(1), T(2) and T(3)) of six in each. The animals in T(1), T(2) and T(3) were given 50 mg/kg DM arsenic daily, while in T(2) and T(3), vitamin E @100 IU and 150 IU/kg DM, respectively, was also supplemented additionally for the period of 12 months. Compared to control, significant (p < 0.05) decline in SOD (45 %), CAT activities of erythrocytes (63 %), plasma total Ig (22 %) and total antioxidant activity (24 %) was observed in only arsenic treated groups and vitamin E supplementation in both doses produced partial mitigation effect against SOD (23 %, 20 %) and CAT (39 %, 48 %) while complete mitigation against total Ig (16 %, 7 %) and antioxidant activity (10 %, 8 %) was found. Average lymphocyte stimulation index at the end of experiment was (p < 0.05) lower in arsenic exposed groups (1.003 ± 0.01) and significant (p < 0.05) recovery was observed in response of vitamin E supplementation at higher doses (1.138 ± 0.03). So, vitamin E is helpful in reducing the burden of arsenic induced oxidative stress and activities of antioxidant enzymes in goats.