Beneficial effect of vitamin-E and –C supplementation on oxidative damage and total antioxidant capacity in lead exposed workers

Introduction
Lead-induced oxidative damage in lead exposed workers. The beneficial effects of antioxidant supplement have been controversial in different oxidative damage states. In general, the molecular response of the antioxidant system as well treatment with antioxidants in lead exposure has not been well studied.

Methods
In this work, the effects of treatment with vitamins-E and -C on the activities of erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes (catalase, dismutase superoxide, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase), ratio reduce/oxidize glutathione and total antioxidant capacity were related with oxidation damage (lipid peroxidation) in lead exposed workers.

Results
Antioxidants (vitamin E 400 U + vitamin C 1g/daily) were supplemented for one year to 19 workers of a lead recovering industry (73 ug of lead/dl of blood) and the results were compared with 15 non-lead exposed workers (6.7 ug of lead/dl of blood). The lead intoxication was accompanied by damage oxidative (higher 75%) and this was attenuated by an increment in erythrocyte antioxidant response (higher 40%), due to increases of catalase and superoxide dismutase activities (3.7 and 2.6 times higher respectively). The antioxidant treatments decrease significantly oxidative damage (38%) and total antioxidant capacity (33%) induced by lead intoxication. Additionally, vitamin-E and –C supplementation reduced antioxidant enzymes activities (catalase 62% and dismutase superoxide 42%).

Discussion
Hence, the antioxidant treatment is effective to reduce oxidative damage and induce modification in physiopathological status of antioxidant response in lead exposed workers.