Dietary modulation of the symptoms of cadmium toxicity in rats: Effects of vitamins A, C, D, D hormone, and fluoride

The effects of vitamins A, C, D, and D hormone (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3), and fluoride and combinations of these micronutrients on the toxic symptoms of young rats exposed to 80 ppm cadmium (Cd2+) in the drinking water and fed a modified AIN-76 diet were studied for 14 weeks. Cd2+ treated rats displayed smaller body weight gains and larger relative kidney and testis weights than controls. Treatment of Cd2+ exposed rats with vitamins A or D ameliorated these symptoms. When combined, these two vitamins were synergistic in this protection as was the combination of vitamin A and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Animals exposed to Cd2+ and treated with vitamin A or a combination of A and D had lower femur dry weights than rats exposed to Cd2+ alone but this effect was not seen with the combination of vitamin A and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. Vitamin C had no protective action on the kidneys or testes but caused an increase in the dry weight of the femurs of the exposed rats. Fluoride partially reduced the weight depression of the Cd2+ exposed rats at certain time periods and lowered the relative weights of the testes in these animals. Fluoride, in combination with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, significantly increased the dry and mineral (ash) weights of the femurs of the Cd2+ exposed rats above that of the controls, a finding which may be relevant to the treatment of osteoporosis. Exposure of rats to Cd2+ significantly depressed the hematocrits and erythrocyte counts and altered the ratio of granuloid to mononuclear peripheral leukocytes. Treatment of Cd2+ exposed rats with either vitamin A and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 or vitamins A and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and fluoride appeared to lessen the hematotoxicity associated with Cd2+ exposure.