Haematological Recovery by Vitamin E and C on Paraquat Inflicted Haematological Insult in Rattus norvegicus

Background: Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) is a fat-soluble vitamin which plays an important role in sustaining healthy metabolism and physiological functions in the body. Earlier studies showed that vitamin E could ameliorate the damaging effect caused by oxidative stress induced by free radicals. Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) is a water soluble vitamin which is needed for the formation of collagen and intracellular materials. Hence, it is essential in wound healing and recovery tissue recovery.

Aim: This study was done to evaluate the haematological effect of Vitamin E and C combination therapy on the chronic toxicity of paraquat in Wister rats.

Methodology: A total of 200 male Wister rats were used for the study. The rats were divided into four main groups of 50 rats in each group (A, B, C, D) and was further subgrouped, having 25rats per subgroup. “A” group was not induced with paraquat while “B”, ‘C” and “D” groups were induced in increasing dose of 0.02g, 0.04g and 0.06g respectively. “A” group had two subgroups; “Ao” and “Avec” which represented the sub-group not treated with Vit E and C and the subgroup treated with 500mg vitamin E and 2000mg/l of vitamin C medicated water respectively. This also applied to group “B”, “C” and “D”. paraquat was induced every forth night for three month followed by weekly treatment for one month.

Results: The result obtained showed a significant decrease in PCV, Hb, and TWBC count among Ao, Bo, Co and Do groups at p<0.05 but no significant difference in the neutrophil and lymphocyte count. Also, there was a significant difference among Ave, Bvec, Cvec and Dvec groups. On intra-group comparison, there was a significant increase in the Hb, and PCV of subgroups Avec, Bvec, Cvec and Dvec at p<0.05 but no significant difference in the TWBC count and differentials.

Conclusion: This indicates that Vitamin E and C combination supplementation had an ameliorative effect on the PCV and Hb value but no effect on the TWBC count and differentials on paraquat toxicity.