Effect of dietary vitamin C and catalase inhibition of antioxidants and molecular markers of oxidative damage in guinea pigs

FIA of vitamin C in blood serum in humans at increasing ethanol concentration

The evaluation of the ethanol influence on the changes in vitamin C levels has been done in humans at increasing ethanol concentration. Flow injection analysis method (FIA) with the spectrophotometric detection was used to determine L-ascorbic acid levels. The procedure is based on the oxidation of the analysis with iron (III) and 2,2'-dipyrydyl. Concentrations of vitamin C in the range of 0.4-1.3 ppm have been determined with a relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) 1.2% (n=15). The injection rate was 40 samples h(-1). The comparison of L-ascorbic acid levels in humans showed a statistical difference at P<0.05 in the analysed group.

Guinea pigs as models for cholesterol and lipoprotein metabolism

Guinea pigs carry the majority of their plasma cholesterol in LDL, making them a unique animal model with which to study hepatic cholesterol and lipoprotein metabolism. In this review, the benefits and advantages of using this particular model are discussed. How dietary factors such as soluble fiber, cholesterol and fatty acids that vary in saturation and chain length affect hepatic cholesterol homeostasis and influence the synthesis, intravascular processing and catabolism of lipoproteins is reviewed. In addition, alterations in hepatic cholesterol metabolism and plasma lipoproteins as affected by treatment with cholestyramine or 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, exercise, marginal intake of vitamin C, ovariectomy (a model for menopause) and similarities to the human situation are addressed. A review of guinea pigs as models for early atherosclerosis development is also presented.

Biochemical evaluation of oxidative stress in propylthiouracil treated hyperthyroid patients. Effects of vitamin C supplementation

In this study the impact of vitamin C supplementation on oxidative damage as assessed by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and markers of antioxidant status: namely Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione were investigated in 24 hyperthyroid patients under propylthiouracil therapy (3x100 mg/day) for five days and in 15 healthy controls. Ascorbic acid (1000 mg/day) was given as a supplement for 1 month to both the patients and controls during the study period. Heparinised blood samples were taken at the beginning and the end of one month ascorbic acid supplementation. Comparison of the hyperthyroid patients with the controls revealed higher lipid peroxidation (p<0.001), higher Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase activity (p<0.001), higher glutathione level (p<0.001) and lower glutathione reductase activity (p<0.001). Vitamin C supplementation to hyperthyroid patients caused significant increases in glutathione concentration (p<0.001) and glutathione peroxidase activity (p<0.001), whereas there were significant decreases in glutathione reductase (p<0.001) and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase activities (p<0.01). Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances/glutathione ratio were significantly decreased (p<0.01). Vitamin C supplementation to euthyroid controls caused significant increases in glutathione concentration (p<0.001) and glutathione peroxidase and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase activities (p<0.001), whereas there was a significant decrease in glutathione reductase (p<0.001). The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances/glutathione ratio was significantly decreased (p<0.05). Our findings reveal the potentiation of antioxidant status and a relief in oxidative stress in both propylthiouracil treated hyperthyroid patients and controls in response to vitamin C supplementation.

Decreased antioxidant defense mechanisms in rat liver after methanol intoxication

The primary metabolic fate of methanol is oxidation to formaldehyde and then to formate by enzymes of the liver. Cytochrome P-450 and a role for the hydroxyl radical have been implicated in this process. The aim of the paper was to study the liver antioxidant defense system in methanol intoxication, in doses of 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 g/kg b.w., after methanol administration to rats. In liver homogenates, the activities of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase and catalase were significantly increased after 6 h following methanol ingestion in doses of 3.0 and 6.0 g/kg b.w. and persisted up to 2-5 days, accompanied by significant decrease of glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase activities. The content of GSH was significantly decreased during 6 hours to 5 days. The liver ascorbate level was significantly diminished, too, while MDA levels were considerably increased after 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 g/kg b.w. methanol intoxication. Changes due to methanol ingestion may indicate impaired antioxidant defense mechanisms in the liver tissue.

Antioxidant status of liver, erythrocytes, and blood serum of rats in acute methanol intoxication

SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, GSSG-R, ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, nonprotein- and protein-bound sulfhydryl compounds, and TBA-rs content in the liver, erythrocytes, and blood serum of rats treated with methanol after 6, 12, and 24 h and 2, 5, and 7 days were investigated. Furthermore, hematological parameters of erythrocytes were analysed. GSH-Px, GSSG-R, sulfhydryl compounds, and ascorbic acid in the liver, erythrocytes, and in blood serum were significantly decreased. In addition, Cu,Zn-SOD and tocopherol in erythrocytes were diminished, whereas TBA-rs in the three biological materials was enhanced. Simultaneously, erythrocytes amount, hemoglobin level, hematocrit, and MCV were reduced. These results indicate that methanol in rats leads to the impairment of antioxidant mechanisms in the liver, erythrocytes, and blood serum.

Effects of co-supplementation of iron with ascorbic acid on antioxidant--pro-oxidant balance in the guinea pig

The relationship between intake of iron with ascorbic acid and their uptake into the plasma and liver of guinea pigs was studied. The influence on the antioxidant/pro-oxidant balance of liver microsomes was also determined. Animals were fed a standard pelleted diet low in iron and ascorbic acid for 35 days. The pellet diet was supplemented by oral dosing with a solution containing either maintenance dietary levels of ascorbic acid and iron, or one of three regimens that increased the dosage of these substances ten fold. There were no significant differences in animal growth rate or food intake between these regimens. Liver and plasma total ascorbate levels were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in animals receiving either ascorbic acid alone (liver 126 +/- 36 micrograms/g tissue wet wt. and plasma 51.7 +/- 17.0 microM; n = 9) or ascorbic acid and iron (105 +/- 18 micrograms/g and 40.3 +/- 15.3.0 microM; n = 8) compared to controls (84 +/- 36 micrograms/g and 15.3 +/- 8.5 microM; n = 11). Total iron levels in the liver (76.7 +/- 7.3 micrograms/g; control; n = 6) and plasma (2.4 +/- 0.03 mg/l; control) were not significantly raised in animals under these conditions of iron or ascorbate intake. Liver microsomes isolated from animals receiving iron had a greater susceptibility to oxidative stress in terms of malondialdehyde production during auto-oxidation compared to those from control animals under the same conditions. This effect was eliminated on combining ascorbic acid with the iron supplementation, suggesting that oral administration of vitamin C has a protective rather than a pro-oxidant effect under these circumstances.

The effect of graded ascorbic acid intake on the activity of GSH-Px in the liver of female guinea pigs

Differing antioxidant potentials created by graded ascorbic acid supplementation (1, 10, 100 mg per animal daily) evoked changes in the level of glutathione peroxidase activity and lipid peroxides in the liver of female guinea pigs. The group with the lowest ascorbic acid intake (1 mg) had the lowest activity of glutathione peroxidase and the highest level of lipid peroxides. The two other groups (10 and 100 mg) showed enhancement of glutathione peroxidase activity and decline in lipid peroxides. There was no difference between the groups with 10 and 100 mg ascorbic acid intake.