Influence of vitamin C, vitamin E and β‐carotene on the osmotic fragility and the primary antioxidant system of erythrocytes in zinc‐deficient rats

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The present study was designed to investigate the effect of antioxidant supplementation on the in vitro osmotic fragility of erythrocytes from zinc-deficient rats. Rats were fed either a zinc-adequate diet, zinc-deficient diet or a zinc-deficient diet enriched either with vitamin C or vitamin E or beta-carotene. Components of the primary antioxidant system of erythrocytes, parameters of hemolysis in vivo and indicators of liver injuries were also examined. In order to ensure adequate and identical food intake rats were force-fed by intragastric tube. The supplementation with antioxidants led to a marked improvement of the osmotic fragility without having influenced zinc status of the animals and components of the antioxidant system. The strongest effect was exerted by vitamin E. The rats fed the zinc-adequate diet (control group) showed unusually high values of erythrocytes osmotic fragility. Therefore there was no difference between control group and zinc-deficient group. A possible reason for this is discussed. Zinc deficiency led to a reduction of serum zinc concentration and alkaline phosphatase activity as well as to changes in the antioxidant system of erythrocytes characterized by a decrease of glutathione and an increase of glutathione S-transferase activity. Superoxide dismutase activity in serum decreased. There was no indication for hemolysis in vivo and for liver injuries.