THE EFFECT OF VITAMIN C AND VITAMIN E ON DNA DAMAGE, OXIDATIVE STATUS, AND SOME BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN RATS WITH EXPERIMENTAL FLUOROSIS

Abstract

Excess fluoride intake may lead to metabolic, functional, and structural damage in soft tissue and organs as well as in teeth and bones. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective and therapeutic properties of vitamins C (vit C) and E (vit E) on the oxidative status and balance, DNA damage, and some biochemical parameters in rats with experimentally-induced chronic fluorosis. Seventy-two Wistar-Albino rats were divided into 9 groups, each containing 8 rats. Control groups were designed as real control and vehicle control groups. Vit C (100 mg/kg), vit E (300 mg/kg) and vit C + vit E (100 mg/kg + 300 mg/kg, respectively) in water that contained 150 ppm NaF were administered daily to three protection groups over 16 weeks. Three treatment groups received ad libitum water with 150 ppm NaF for 16 weeks, followed by the administration of normal drinking water plus vit C (100 mg/kg), vit E (300 mg/kg), and vit C + vit E (100 mg/kg + 300 mg/kg, respectively) on alternate days for 4 weeks. Serum biochemistry, total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and analyses were conducted on sera obtained at the end of the study. To determine DNA damage, the comet assay and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanine (8-OHdG) analysis were used. Although the therapeutic and protective vitamin administration of vitamins C and E to the rats with experimentally-induced chronic fluorosis had only a limited effect on the oxidative status, the biochemical results for renal and hepatic function showed that the vitamins had positive effects and the comet assay and 8-OHdG analysis showed that DNA damage was reduced. In conclusion, significant positive results were obtained with protective and therapeutic treatment with vitamins E and C in rats with experimentally-induced chronic fluorosis. It is suggested that further studies are conducted to clarify the molecular mechanisms involved in producing these positive outcomes.