Oxidant/antioxidant status in liver tissue of vitamin B6 deficient rats

Background and aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the lipid peroxidation and antioxidant function in liver tissue of vitamin B6 deficient rats and investigate relationship among these parameters in either group. Methods: Twenty-four male rats with a weight of 48–59 g were used for the experiment. The rats were divided into control (n=12) and vitamin B6 deficient groups. After 4 weeks of feeding, the rats were killed by cervical dislocation and liver tissues were removed. Biochemical measurements in liver tissue were carried out using a spectrophotometer. Results: Liver tissue antioxidant potential, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, total (enzymatic plus non-enzymatic) superoxide scavenger activity, non-enzymatic superoxide scavenger activity, glutathione levels were significantly lower in vitamin B6 deficient rats than in control group. However, liver tissue glutathione reductase activity, and MDA values were significantly higher in vitamin B6 deficient rats than in control group. Conclusions: These results explicitly indicate that vitamin B6 deficiency causes a decrease in antioxidant defense system and an increase in oxidant stress in liver tissue in rats.