The Effects of Vitamin E on the Liver Integrity of Mice Fed with Acrylamide Diet

Background and Objectives: Acrylamide is a monomer which is formed in foodstuffs containing carbohydrates altered to asparagine during thermal processing. Vitamin E is a component in human diet considered as the most effective lipid-soluble antioxidant found in the biological system. It prevents initiation of oxidative tissue damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of vitamin E on hepatic biochemical and histological integrity in male mice fed with acrylamide. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight adult male mice were randomly divided into four groups comprised of seven mice each. The first group served as control fed on ad-libitum diet; second group received 10 mg/kg/day acrylamide in drinking water; in third group, 100 mg/kg/day vitamin E was injected intraperitoneal, and fourth received a combination of acrylamide/vitamin E for 35 days. After cutting liver, liver injury was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin, and reticulin staining. Results: Following acrylamide consumption, the serum levels of liver enzymes significantly increased and light microscopy showed lymphocytes infiltration, inflammation of portal space and central vein, apoptosis, chromatolysis and fibrous expansion in some portal areas in acrylamide-treated mice. There was a statistically considerable difference between biochemical parameters, index apoptosis and histological features when the acrylamide plus vitamin E-treated group was compared with acrylamide-treated group. Conclusion: Acrylamide induced disturbance in hepatocytes activity and increased the serum levels of liver and structural changes in the liver. Administration of vitamin E significantly reduced the increased level of serum aminotransferase and the pathological changes, also effectively suppressed the acrylamide–induced liver injury.