ABSTRACT
To investigate the protective property of vitamin C upon lead induced toxicity in male albino rats. Subjects: The biological effects of lead exposure at 500 ppm for 7 weeks in drinking water upon 40 male albino rats were investigated with and without 5% vitamin C supplementation in normal rat chow in four groups: group [I] is the negative control group, group [II] rats were supplemented with normal rat chow containing 5% vitamin C, group [III] rats were given 500 ppm lead acetate in drinking water and group [IV] rats were given 500 ppm lead acetate in drinking water and 5% vitamin C in normal rat chow. It was observed that lead content in the lead exposed group was significantly increased in kidneys, liver, brain, RBC's and serum by 18.6, 7.5, 7.3, 8.3 and 4.1-fold, respectively as compared with negative control group indicating that the kidney was the most deteriorated organ in lead toxicity with elevated serum creatinine level. With 5% vitamin C supplementation in the lead exposed group, the lead content in these organs and fluids significantly decreased by 45, 61, 31, 58 and 39%, respectively as compared with the lead exposed group. Also with vitamin C supplementation, AST, ALT and creatinine in serum significantly decreased by 22, 23 and 29%, respectively with a concomitant significant increase in delta ALAD activity, HB and HCT by 52, 35 and 53%, respectively as compared to the lead exposed group but with non-significant changes in serum iron as compared with both negative control and lead exposed groups. Current search amplify the beneficial protective effect of vitamin C supplementation against lead induced toxicity