Thiamine and pyridoxine supplementations ameliorate subchronic lead-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity: single action and cocktail effect analysis

Abstract

Chijioke Obinna Ezenwelu, Maximilian Obinna Obiakor, Chigozie Damian Ezeonyejiaku

The study investigated the role of thiamine and pyridoxine individually and in cocktail in mitigating the biochemical alterations induced by subchronic administration of 500mg/kg of lead acetate for 6 weeks. Twenty – five Wistar albino rats divided into five groups of five animals in each group were used for this study. The first group, the negative control, received no treatment. The second group, the positive control, had 500mg of lead acetate added per kg of feed. The three other groups were given the same regimen as the second group but in addition, 300mg of thiamine per kg diet was added to the third group, 300mg of pyridoxine per kg diet added to the fourth group and 300mg of vitamin mixture containing 150mg of thiamine as well as 150mg of pyridoxine was added per kg diet to the fifth group. The rats were sacrificed after 6 weeks and sera were analysed for alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities. Urea and creatinine concentrations were also evaluated. The activities of ALT, AST and ALP as well as the levels of urea and creatinine were significantly lower in all groups that received vitamin supplementation when compared with the positive control. This indicates that thiamine, and pyridoxine has ameliorative effect on lead induced toxicity on liver and kidney of Wistar albino rats. The significant difference between the cocktail group and other individual vitamin groups also showed an additive effect when thiamine and pyridoxine are administered in combination.