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Vitamin A supplementation modifies the antioxidant system in rats
Jung-Hwa Cha1, Qi-Ming Yu1, Jung-Sook Seo1
1Department of Food and Nutrition, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-ro, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, Korea.
Nutrition Research and Practice
|February 12, 2016
Summary
Appropriate vitamin A supplementation may benefit the rat antioxidant system. Moderate doses reduced lipid peroxides and increased glutathione, while excessive doses showed negative effects on liver tissue.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Nutrition Science
- Toxicology
Background:
- Vitamin A plays a dual role as antioxidant or prooxidant.
- Both deficiency and excess of vitamin A can negatively impact health.
- Its effects on skeletal health and antioxidant systems are dose-dependent.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of varying vitamin A doses on the antioxidant system in rats.
- To determine optimal vitamin A supplementation levels for antioxidant defense.
Main Methods:
- Forty male Spargue-Dawley rats were fed diets with 0, 4,000, 8,000, or 20,000 IU retinyl palmitate/kg for 4 weeks.
- Assessed lipid peroxide levels, glutathione, antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase), and vitamin E.
- Examined liver histopathology using light and transmission electron microscopy.
Main Results:
- Moderate vitamin A (4,000-8,000 IU) decreased plasma lipid peroxides and increased erythrocyte catalase, hepatic superoxide dismutase, and total glutathione.
- High vitamin A (20,000 IU) reduced hepatic glutathione peroxidase activity.
- Excessive vitamin A intake induced lipid droplet accumulation and nuclear membrane deformation in liver tissue.
Conclusions:
- Moderate vitamin A supplementation demonstrates a beneficial effect on the antioxidant system in rats.
- Excessive vitamin A intake can lead to adverse effects on liver tissue and antioxidant capacity.