Vitamin E prevents aflatoxin-induced lipid peroxidation in the liver and kidney

We have evaluated the effect of aflatoxin on lipid peroxidation in the live r and kidney and its possible amelioration by prior administration of vitam in E (alpha-tocopherol). Adult Swiss strain male albino mice (Mus musculus) received 25 and 50 mu g aflatoxin/animal/day (750 and 1500 mu g/kg body we ight) orally for 45 days. Vitamin E was also previously orally administered at a dose of 2mg/ animal/day for 45 days. The aflatoxin treatment caused a significant dose-dependent increase in lipid peroxidation which could be d ue to reductions in the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione per oxidase and catalase. The levels of glutathione, total ascorbic acid and re duced ascorbic acid also declined significantly. Prior vitamin E administra tion prevented these changes significantly but the effect was more pronounc ed in animals treated with low dose of aflatoxin than in those receiving th e high dose. These findings suggest that vitamin E pre-treatment significan tly inhibited aflatoxin-induced lipid peroxidation. The protective effect o f vitamin E against lipid peroxidation is mainly due to increased non-enzym atic and enzymatic antioxidants. Med Sci Res 27:223-226 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.