METABOLIC ENDOTOXEMIA: ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF ASCORBIC ACID
Abstract
There is a global increase in fructose intake through the consumption of sweetened beverages. High fructose consumption has been linked with oxidative and metabolic disturbances. Ascorbic acid (commonly known as Vitamin C) is a potent antioxidant that positively boosts the oxidative and metabolic systems. This study aimed to investigate the impact of vitamin C supplementation on serum and kidney oxidative stress markers in male Wistar rats fed with high fructose drink.
Twenty (20) adult male Wistar rats (120±20g) were acclimatized for 14 days and randomly assigned into four groups with five rats per group (n=5) were used for this study. Group 1 (Control group) received normal rat feed and distilled water; Group 2 (Vit C) received normal rat feed and 100ml of distilled water with 1g of vitamin C; Group 3 (HFD) was given normal rat feed and 100ml of distilled water with 30g of fructose; and Group 4 (HFD+Vit C) received 100ml of distilled water with 1g of vitamin C and 30g of fructose. At the end of 4 weeks, the animals were sacrificed following standard laboratory procedures. Serum was obtained from the blood samples, and the kidneys were harvested, homogenized, and decanted for the analysis of malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Glutathione (GSH), and catalase (CAT) levels in the serum and kidney tissues. Statistical analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA in Graph Pad Prism 8.0, with a significance level of p≤0.05.
Results showed that the high fructose fed group exhibited a significant increase (p≤0.05) in MDA levels (12.74±0.91) compared with the control group (8.53±0.31) and reduced SOD levels (0.60±0.02) compared with the control group (1.54±0.06). There was also a significant decrease (p≤0.05) in GSH levels (11.66±0.43) compared with the control group (21.83±0.27) and reduced CAT activity (1.60±0.19) compared with the control group (5.60±0.36), indicating increased lipid peroxidation and impaired antioxidant defenses.
Vitamin C supplementation effectively reduced MDA levels while restoring SOD, CAT, and GSH activity, indicating its protective role in mitigating fructose-induced oxidative stress. These findings highlight vitamin C’s potential as an antioxidant intervention to counteract oxidative damage and renal dysfunction caused by high fructose consumption
Keywords:
Metabolic Endotoxemia, Antioxidant, Ascorbic Acid, FructoseDownloads
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Copyright (c) 2025 Omodiagbe Omoiyebagbe, Okonofua David Ehikhuemen, Edwin Edna Ekeleoseya, Omogbemhe, Sunny Aselimhe
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