INFLUENCE OF VITAMIN-C, VITAMIN-E AND BETA-CAROTENE ON THE OSMOTIC FRAGILITY AND THE PRIMARY ANTIOXIDANT SYSTEM OF ERYTHROCYTES IN ZINC-DEFICIENT RATS

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of antioxidan t supplementation on the in vitro osmotic fragility of erythrocytes fr om zinc-deficient rats, Rats were fed either a zinc-adequate diet, zin c-deficient diet or a zinc-deficient diet enriched either with vitamin C or vitamin E or p-carotene. Components of the primary antioxidant s ystem of erythrocytes, parameters of hemolysis in vivo and indicators of liver injuries were also examined. In order to ensure adequate and identical food intake rats were force-fed by intragastric tube. The su pplementation with antioxidants led to a marked improvement of the osm otic fragility without having influenced zinc status of the animals an d components of the antioxidant system. The strongest effect was exert ed by vitamin E. The rats fed the zinc-adequate diet (control group) s howed unusually high values of erythrocytes osmotic fragility. Therefo re there was no difference between control group and zinc-deficient gr oup. A possible reason for this is discussed. Zinc deficiency led to a reduction of serum zinc concentration and alkaline phosphatase activi ty as well as to changes in the antioxidant system of erythrocytes cha racterized by a decrease of glutathione and an increase of glutathione S-transferase activity. Superoxide dismutase activity in serum decrea sed. There was no indication for hemolysis in vivo and for liver injur ies.