Effect of vitamin E and C supplementation on oxidative damage and total antioxidant capacity in lead-exposed workers

Abstract

The molecular response of the antioxidant system and the effects of antioxidant supplementation against oxidative insult in lead-exposed workers has not been sufficiently studied. In this work, antioxidants (vitamin E 400IU+vitaminC 1g/daily) were supplemented for one year to 15 workers exposed to lead (73μg of lead/dl of blood) and the results were compared with those on 19 non-lead exposed workers (6.7μg of lead/dl). Lead intoxication was accompanied by a high oxidative damage and an increment in the erythrocyte antioxidant response due to increased activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase. Antioxidant supplementations decreased significantly the oxidative damage as well as the total antioxidant capacity induced by lead intoxication with reduction of the antioxidant enzyme activities. We conclude that antioxidant supplementation is effective in reducing oxidative damage and induces modifications in the physiopathological status of the antioxidant response in lead-exposed workers.