EFFECTS OF SELENIUM AND VITAMIN E ON FREE RADICALS METABOLISM IN LIVER OF RAT FED GRAINS FROM A KESHAN DISEASE ENDEMIC AREA / 营养学报

ABSTRACT

The changes ot free radicals matebolism in liver of rat fed grains from a Keshan disease endemic area and the effects of selenium and vitamin E on those were studied. The endemic grains that were deficient in selenium caused markedly decrease in the glutathione peroxidase activity, and marked increase in the lipid peroxides content and the free radicals level of the rat livers. The diets that supplemented the endemic grains with either selenium (0.22 mg/kg diets) or DL-alpha-tocopherol (100 mg /kg diets) caused the falls in the lipid peroxides content and the free rdicaals level. There was a marked rise in the al pha-tocopherol content and reduced glutathione content in livers of rats fed grains from the endemic area, suggesting an increased reqiu-rement of vitamin E and production of glutathione in the selenium-defi-cient rats. The results indicate that a disorder of free radicals metaboli- sm is induced by the pathogenic factors existing in the grains cultiva-ted in a Keshan disease endemic area, and is reduced by supplementing the grains with sodium selenium or vitamin E, suggesting that relative lack of vitamin E may play an important role in the mechanism of Keshan disease onset.