Changes in oxidative status of the heart in rats receiving vitamin C supplements

Abstract

We studied the oxidative status of the heart in rats receiving by two doses of vitamin C over a period of four weeks. The activities of copper zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), and catalase, hydrogen peroxide concentration, the level of lipid peroxidation, and total vitamin C content were determined in the heart of the experimental animals, as well as the concentration of vitamin C in their serum. Our results indicate that, apart from the ability of rats to synthesize vitamin C, supplementation leads to additional antioxidative protection.

Keywords

• Vitamin C
• heart
• antioxidative protection
• rats