Role of vitamins in treatment of lead intoxication

The efficacy of thiamine, ascorbic acid, and becozinc (a pharmacological preparation containing vitamins of the B-complex group, vitamin C, and zinc) in enhancing excretion and reducing tissue burden of lead and reversing lead-sensitive biochemical alterations was investigated in lead pre-exposed rat. These vitamins were effective in mobilizing lead from blood, liver, and kidney into urine and/or feces and in restoring partially blood zinc protoporphyrin level. All the vitamins were effective in reversing completely the lead-induced increase in blood and renal calcium levels, and becozinc was particularly effective in restoring the decreased hepatic and tibia zinc content. However, the inhibition of blood δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity and increase in urinary aminolevulinic acid excretion due to lead remained uninfluenced, which may require more time for recovery. The results suggest the use of becozinc as a safe alternate to treatment of lead poisoning with the chelating agents. J. Trace Elem. Exp. Med. 13:305–315, 2000.