The Role of Vitamin E in Reducing the Toxic Effects of Lead Poisoning in Baghdad, Iraq

Abstract

Background: The incidence of lead poisoning has risen in Iraq because of increasing environmental pollution, especially in Baghdad. In Baghdad, the growing number of motor vehicles and the emission of pollutants, including lead, have contributed to increased environmental contamination and lead exposure, as well as waste generated by private laboratories that fail to meet basic environmental and public health safety standards. Method: The study included forty adult male rats, divided into four groups: a control group, a group treated with lead acetate (400 ppm), a group that received vitamin E (30 ppm) with a certain percentage of body weight, and a group treated with both lead acetate and vitamin E. The treatment duration was 60 days, and hematological and biochemical indicators were assessed to study the effects of lead exposure and the protective role of vitamins. Results: Lead acetate administration induced marked hematological and biochemical disturbances in experimental rats. Changes in blood cells were marked by significant reduction of red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb) level and packed cell volume (PCV), and significant increase in total white blood cells count and neutrophils, and significant reduction in lymphocyte and monocyte count. There was no significant difference between the hematocrit (HCT) values of the experimental groups. Biochemical tests showed that serum total protein, albumin and globulin levels were significantly decreased with exposure to lead acetate, while serum cholesterol levels and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity were significantly increased. Although there was a modest increase in the activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), these changes were not statistically significant. However, administration of vitamin E proved to be effective in reducing most of the hematological and biochemical changes caused by lead acetate indicating its antioxidant and protective effect against lead-induced toxicity. Conclusions: The present study confirms that lead acetate exposure causes a significant alteration of hematological and biochemical parameters in rats which is a direct indication of its toxic effects on hematological parameters and liver function. Most of these harmful changes were effectively reduced with vitamin E supplementation which makes vitamin E a good antioxidant and protective agent against the adverse effect of oxygen free radicals caused by lead. Based on the present results, vitamin E could be a promising therapeutic agent against the adverse effects of lead toxicity.