Abstract
BackgroundSelenium (Se), vitamin C and vitamin E function as antioxidants within the body. In this study, we investigated the effects of reduced dietary Se and L-ascorbic acid (AA) on vitamin C and α-tocopherol (AT) status in guinea pig tissues.MethodsMale Hartley guinea pigs were orally dosed with a marginal amount of AA and fed a diet deficient (Se-D/MC), marginal (Se-M/MC) or normal (Se-N/MC) in Se. An additional diet group (Se-N/NC) was fed normal Se and dosed with a normal amount of AA. Guinea pigs were killed after 5 or 12 weeks on the experimental diets at 24 and 48 hours post AA dosing.ResultsLiver Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity was decreased (P < 0.05) in guinea pigs fed Se or AA restricted diets. Plasma total glutathione concentrations were unaffected (P > 0.05) by reduction in dietary Se or AA. All tissues examined showed a decrease (P < 0.05) in AA content in Se-N/MC compared to Se-N/NC guinea pigs. Kidney, testis, muscle and spleen showed a decreasing trend (P < 0.05) in AA content with decreasing Se in the diet. Dehydroascorbic acid concentrations were decreased (P < 0.05) in several tissues with reduction in dietary Se (heart and spleen) or AA (liver, heart, kidney, muscle and spleen). At week 12, combined dietary restriction of Se and AA decreased AT concentrations in most tissues. In addition, restriction of Se (liver, heart and spleen) and AA (liver, kidney and spleen) separately also reduced AT in tissues.ConclusionTogether, these data demonstrate sparing effects of Se and AA on vitamin C and AT in guinea pig tissues.
Highlights
Selenium (Se), vitamin C and vitamin E function as antioxidants within the body
To investigate the sparing effects of Se on vitamin C and AT when intake of ascorbic acid (AA) is low, guinea pigs were orally dosed with a marginal amount of AA and fed a diet deficient (Se-D/MC), marginal (Se-M/MC) or normal (Se-N/ MC) in Se
An additional diet group (Se-N/NC) dosed with a normal amount of AA and fed a normal Se diet was included in the experimental protocol to allow investigation of the sparing effects of AA on vitamin C and AT
Summary
Selenium (Se), vitamin C and vitamin E function as antioxidants within the body. We investigated the effects of reduced dietary Se and L-ascorbic acid (AA) on vitamin C and α-tocopherol (AT) status in guinea pig tissues. Vitamin C is a water soluble antioxidant. The active form of vitamin C, L-ascorbic acid (AA), can be regenerated by the reduction of its oxidised forms, dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA) and the ascorbate free radical in a process mediated by glutathione (GSH) [2,3,4,5,6]. Selenium (Se) and vitamin E function as important antioxidants within the body. Vitamin E is a lipid soluble antioxidant present in cell membranes where it plays a vital role in protecting against lipid peroxidation [11,12,13]. Like vitamin C, vitamin E must be obtained from the diet
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