Protection by vitamin E, selenium, trolox, ascorbic acid palmitate, acetylcysteine, coenzyme Q, β-carotene, and (+)-catechin against oxidative damage to rat liver and heart tissue slices measured by oxidized heme proteins

Abstract

Male rats were fed a basal diet containing vitamin E and Se which was supplemented with three different doses of trolox, ascorbic acid palmitate, acetylcysteine, β -carotene, coenzyme Q 10 , coenzyme Q 0 , and (+)-catechin. Liver and heart tissue slices were incubated at 37 °C. The effect of antioxidants on oxidative damage to rat liver and heart tissue slices was studied by measurement of the production of oxidized heme proteins during spontaneous oxidative reactions. Supplementing the basal vitamin E and Se diet with the other seven antioxidants at levels that would be appropriate for humans resulted in considerable additional protection. Increasing further the dosage of the seven supplementary antioxidants did not result in a proportional increase in protection. Maximum protection against tissue oxidation was reached at a practical dietary level of antioxidants.