In the present study, an investigation was undertaken to assess the protective efficacy in
cadmium toxicity of
vitamins administered simultaneously as well as post-treatment. Rats were treated with
cadmium 1 mg/kg
body weight (bw) powdered
vitamin A chewable
tablet 500 IU/kg bw/day and
injectable vitamin D(3) (made into a
suspension with
gum tragacanth in 100 ml distilled water) 100 IU/kg bw/day, mixed with powdered pellet feed and fed to experimental animals. Spontaneous motor activity and Rota Rod Endurance time was recorded after both simultaneous (for 21 days) and post-treatment (42 days).
Vitamin treated animals by themselves behaved like controls but attenuated the
cadmium effect when given Cd simultaneously or as post-treatment. While the biochemical changes were assayed,
vitamins which did not have any influence on their own, given simultaneously and as post-treatment, antagonized the
cadmium effect on heart, liver tissues and serum. Both simultaneous and post-
cadmium and -
vitamin treatments significantly increased the activities of the
enzymes aspartic amino
transferase,
alanine aminotransferase,
acid phosphatase and
alkaline phosphatase in tissues and serum. Simultaneous and post-
vitamin treatment with Cd had an effect of bringing back the activity of the
enzymes closer to control values. These data suggest that treatment with
vitamin A and D can minimise the Cd effect when given to the population exposed to Cd.