Effect Of Folic Acid And Vitamin B12 On Nicotine Mediated Ovarian Dysfunction

Nicotine is an abundant and most significant component of cigarette smoke. Epidemiological evidence strongly suggests an association between cigarette smoking and misalignment of female reproductive function. In the present study we examined the impact and underlying mechanisms of action of folic acid and vitamin B12 on nicotine-induced damage in ovary of rats. Female Wistar rats were treated with nicotine (3 mg/kg body weight/d, intraperitonealy) with or without folic acid (36 µg/kg body weight/d, orally) and vitamin B12 (0.63 µg/kg body weight/d, orally) for 28 days. Serum estrogen and oxidative stress parameters were measured. Folic acid and vitamin B12 blunted the nicotine-induced impairment in serum estrogen level. Moreover, folic acid in combination with vitamin B12 also attenuated the nicotine-induced changes in markers of oxidative stress in the ovarian tissue of rats as demonstrated by reduced level of nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA), increased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) as well as elevated reduced glutathione (GSH) level. The present study shows that folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation can reduce nicotine-induced impairment in serum estrogen level and ovarian function by modulating oxidative stress.