Protective role of vitamin D against radiation hazards in rats fed on high fat diet

Abstract

Background: Both exposure to ionizing radiation and obesity have been linked to a variety of diseases. As a result, there is an urgent need to consider the combined impact of these risks, as well as the role of vitamin D as an antioxidant. Purpose: The current study aims to explore the potential role of vitamin D against the harmful effects of gamma irradiation on lung and heart of obese rats. Materials and methods: 40 male albino rats were divided into 5 equal groups: (1) a normal group, (2) an obese group fed a high-fat diet, (3) a normal group exposed to a single dose of ɤ-radiation (6Gy) before the end of experiment by 24 h, (4) an obese group exposed to radiation at same time as group3, and (5) and obese group injected intramuscular by vitamin D in the last three weeks of experiment, three times by week and exposed to radiation at same time as “G3” and “G4”. Results: There was a significant increase in the serum level of lipid, inflammatory agent, creatine kinase myocardial band, troponin and tissue levels of malondialdehyde in lung and heart, while there was a decline in the tissue level of glutathione. This biochemical alternation was accompanied by histological changes in the heart and lung tissues in the gamma irradiation group and the obese groups compared to the normal group. While, supplementation of vitamin D decreases these harmful effects as well as protects the heart and lung tissue from the injurious effects of obesity and gamma irradiation. In conclusion: vitamin D has a potential role as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, which highlights the significance of vitamin D supplementation to obese and oncology patients during radiotherapy to protect or at least alleviate the harmful effects of radiotherapy.

Keywords

• Vitamin D
• Gamma irradiation
• Troponin
• Obesity
• Lung and heart histological studies