Mahmoud Moghaddam Dorafshani; Mohammad Reza Nikravesh; Mahdi Jalali; Mohammad Soukhtanloo
Volume 20, Issue 11 , November 2018, , Pages 1-8
Abstract
Background: Liver cells or hepatocytes facilitate different hepatic functions. The liver reportedly accounts for up to 500 separate functions, alongside other systems and organs. The high consumption of the food containing high levels of nitrate in the commu- nity and the presence of this harmful substance ...
Read More
Background: Liver cells or hepatocytes facilitate different hepatic functions. The liver reportedly accounts for up to 500 separate functions, alongside other systems and organs. The high consumption of the food containing high levels of nitrate in the commu- nity and the presence of this harmful substance in water endanger the health of many people. N-nitroso compounds, as potential free radicals, can damage the tissues through oxidative stress. Objectives: The current study was targeted toward examining the impact of drinking water nitrate and vitamin C on hepatic en- zymes and oxidative markers in rats. Methods: The present experimental study was performed on 49 rats in Mashhad, Iran, during 2017 - 2018. The subjects were as- signed into seven groups. Group one received water without nitrates (control) while groups two, three, and four received different concentration of nitrates (10, 45, 200 mg/L). Groups five, six, and seven received the same concentration of nitrates and vitamin C (20 mg/100g body weight). After 91 days, blood samples were obtained to determine hepatic enzymes (namely, ALT/SGPT: alanine aminotransferase, AST/SGOT: aspartate aminotransferase, and ALP: alkaline phosphatase). Furthermore, an autopsy was carried out to examine the liver tissue regarding the markers of oxidation (namely, MDA: Malondialdehyde, SOD: Superoxide-dismutase, CAT: Catalase enzyme, and GSH: Glutathione), according to the protocol. Results: The results revealed a significant elevation in ALP (P = 0.034), AST (P = 0.018), and ALT (155.14 ± 25.67, 92 ± 17.72, P = 0.000), compared to those in the control group. In addition, the fourth group demonstrated a significant enhancement in MDA level, col- lated to the group one (P = 0.44), while there was a significant drop in CAT (P = 0.025), SOD (P = 0.002), and GSH levels (P = 0.000). Furthermore, use of vitamin C led to a significant drop in the levels of ALP, AST, ALT, and MDA, as well as a significant elevation in GSH, SOD, and CAT in the seventh group in comparison to the fourth group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: As the findings indicated, drinking water nitrate and Vitamin C exerted a non-significant effect on the doses of nitrate (10 and 45 mg/L). Nonetheless, a nitrate dose of 200 mg/L had a significant impact on ALT, ALP, AST, and oxidative stress indicators leading to hepatic diseases.
Mahmoud Moghaddam Dorafshani; Mahdi Jalali; Mohammad Reza Nikravesh; Mohammad Soukhtanloo
Volume 20, Issue 8 , August 2018, , Pages 1-11
Abstract
Background: Nitrate (NO3-) is one of the inorganic anions produced from the oxidation of nitrogen. The organic or inorganic nitrogen may act as a carcinogen depending on the reduction of nitrate to nitrite and the subsequent reactions of nitrite with other molecules, leading to the formation of N-nitroso ...
Read More
Background: Nitrate (NO3-) is one of the inorganic anions produced from the oxidation of nitrogen. The organic or inorganic nitrogen may act as a carcinogen depending on the reduction of nitrate to nitrite and the subsequent reactions of nitrite with other molecules, leading to the formation of N-nitroso compounds. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effects of nitrate and Vitamin C on oxidative stress in the renal tissue of rats. Methods: This experimental study was conducted in Iran during the 2017 - 2018. The sample size was estimated to include 55 Wistarmale rats using Morgan’s table and Cochran’s formula. In total, 49 rats were selected and divided into seven groups of: (1) NO3 = 0 mg/L (control), (2) NO3 = 10 mg/L, (3) NO3 = 45 mg/L, (4) NO3 = 200 mg/L, (5) NO3 = 10 mg/L + Vitamin C 20 mg/100 g BW (Body Weight), (6) NO3 = 45 mg/L + Vitamin C 20 mg/100 g BW, and (7) NO3 = 200 mg/L + Vitamin C 20 mg/100 g BW. Blood samples were obtained to determine blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine. An autopsy was performed on the renal tissue to evaluate oxidative stress indicators including malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH). Results: In this research, the fourth group showed a significant increase in the level of creatinine (50.14 ± 2.6, 43.14 ± 1.21, P = 0.01) and BUN (0.72 ± 0.04, 0.57 ± 0.11, P = 0.003) compared to the control group. On the other hand, a significant increase was observed in the level of MDA in the fourth group compared to the control group (P = 0.01), whereas a significant reduction was found in thelevels of CAT (P = 0.001), SOD (P = 0.02), and GSH (P = 0.02). In addition, the levels of creatinine and BUN significantly reduced in the seventh group compared to the fourth group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the use of Vitamin C resulted in a significant reduction in MDA and an increase in SOD, CAT, and GSH in the seventh group compared to the fourth group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: According to the results of the study, nitrate in drinking water and the prescription of Vitamin C had no significant effect in the presence of nitrate doses of 10 and 45 mg/L. However, a 200 mg/L dose of nitrate significantly affected BUN, serum creatinine, and oxidative stress indicators, causing the kidney disease.
