Alterations in oxidative metabolism in liver of female rats: Effects of long-term vitamin A deficiency

Abstract

Background: The latest estimate by 5 UN agencies is that 821 million people globally are undernourished, which puts them at risk of vitamin and other nutrient deficiencies. Vitamin A deficiency remains a widespread public health problem among women and children in the developing world the role of vitamin A and its active metabolites in pathways involved in antioxidant protection and in the inhibition of important pathways that promote oxidative stress. Objectives: Determine if vitamin A deficiency could influence oxidative metabolism in 6-month-old female wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Determine the concentration of carbonyl proteins, as a marker of protein oxidation; TBARS, as a lipoperoxidation marker; and nitrotyrosine as a marker of oxidative stress dependent on nitric oxide. Quantify the expression of CAT, SOD, eNOS and iNOS in the liver and wistar rats deficient in vitamin A for 6 months. Results: An increase in the concentration of carbonyl protein and nitrotyrosine in the liver tissue deficient in vitamin A is observed. The expression of SOD, eNOS and iNOS decreased in the group with a private diet of vitamin A. From the regression analysis a positive correlation was established between hepatic retinoic acid levels and gene expression of eNOS, iNOS and SOD. A positive correlation between serum retinoic acid levels and gene expression of eNOS and iNOS was also observed. Conclusions: It is possible to ratify the relationship between the development of stress and vitamin A levels; improving the understanding of hepatic metabolism and its response to the absence of this vitamin.