Vitamin C supplementation attenuates cadmium-associated renal biochemical and oxidative alterations in Wistar Albino rats

Vitamin C attenuates Cadmium Nephrotoxicity in rats

Authors

  • Sarra Derbal Laboratory of Animal Ecophysiology, Badji Mokhtar - Annaba University, 12, P.O.Box, 23000 Annaba, Algeria https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7310-9697
  • Abdelmalek Arabi Research Laboratory on Phoeniciculture "Phoenix," Kasdi Merbah University - Ouargla 30000, Algeria https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7426-0502

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62310/liab.v6i1.424

Keywords:

Cadmium chloride, Vitamin C, Wistar Albino rats, Renal biochemistry, Oxidative status

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the nephroprotective potential of vitamin C on biochemical parameters and oxidative biomarkers in rats exposed to subchronic dose of cadmium chloride (200 mg/L) for four weeks. The rats were placed in eight cages, with five rats per cage. The cages were divided into four groups: a control group, a vitamin C group with vitamin C supplementation in drinking water (1 g/L), a cadmium chloride group receiving cadmium chloride in drinking water (200 mg/L), and a combined-treatment group receiving both cadmium chloride (200 mg/L) and vitamin C (1 g/L) in drinking water (Cd-vit C). Results revealed that cadmium-exposed group had significantly lower body weight, with increased absolute and relative kidney weights, along with higher circulating levels of urea, creatinine, and uric acid. Cadmium exposure reduced glutathione content and the activities of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase in kidneys, whereas the malondialdehyde levels increased. Cadmium chloride exposure adversely affected body weight and renal weight, along with adverse effects on renal biochemical and antioxidants parameters. However, co-supplementation with vitamin C partially attenuated these negative changes.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Al Sammak M, Ahmed RM, Alazzo N. (2021). The role of vitamin C in amelioration of hepatorenal toxicity of cefotaxime in adult albino rats (histological study). Journal of Medical Sciences 9: 845–848. https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2021.7116

Almaimouni NM, Roshdy MH. (2022). Study on the efficacy of garlic extract against cadmium toxicity of liver and kidney in rats. Acta Scientific Veterinary Sciences 4(11): 01–08. https://doi.org/10.31080/ASVS.2022.04.0537

Alsudani AA. (2022). Environmental, biochemical and hematological study in rats exposed to cadmium chloride in drinking water and the role of vitamin E and C. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 1029(1): 012011. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1029/1/012011

Ammari AA, Alhimaidi AR, Amran RA, Swelum AA, Alowaimer AN. (2025). Protective effects of Ziziphus spina-christi on cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Indian Journal of Animal Research 1: 6. https://doi.org/10.18805/IJAR.BF-1854

Badawi K, El Sharazly BM, Negm O, Khan R, Carter WG. (2024). Is cadmium genotoxicity due to the induction of redox stress and inflammation? A systematic review. Antioxidants 13(8): 932. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13080932

Bautista CJ, Arango N, Plata C, Mitre-Aguilar IB, Trujillo J, Ramírez V. (2024). Mechanism of cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity. Toxicology 502: 153726. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2024.153726

Chiorcea-Paquim A-M. (2022). 8-oxoguanine and 8-oxodeoxyguanosine biomarkers of oxidative DNA damage: A review on HPLC–ECD determination. Molecules 27(5): 1620. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27051620

Cinar MA, Yigit A, Eraslan G. (2010). Effects of vitamin C or vitamin E supplementation on cadmium-induced oxidative stress and anaemia in broilers. Revue de Médecine Vétérinaire 161(10): 449–454.

Ehimigbai ARO, Onyemachi KD, Ohirhian J. (2025). Effects of aqueous leaf extract of Hibiscus rosa sinensis on cadmium-induced kidney damage in adult Wistar rats. Scientia Africana 24(1): 317–328. https://doi.org/10.4314/sa.v24i1.26

El-Demerdash FM, Yousef MI, Radwan FME. (2009). Ameliorating effect of curcumin on sodium arsenite-induced oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation in different rat organs. Food and Chemical Toxicology 47(1): 249–254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2008.11.013

El-Sokkary GH, Awadalla EA. (2011). The protective role of vitamin C against cerebral and pulmonary damage induced by cadmium chloride in male adult albino rat. The Open Neuroendocrinology Journal 4: 1–8. https://doi.org/10.2174/1876528901104010001

Erdogan Z, Erdogan S, Celik S, Unlu V. (2005). Effects of ascorbic acid on cadmium-induced oxidative stress and performance of broilers. Biological Trace Element Research 104(1): 19–31. https://doi.org/10.1385/BTER:104:1:019

Genchi G, Sinicropi MS, Lauria G, Carocci A, Catalano A. (2020). The effects of cadmium toxicity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17(11): 3782. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17113782

Haidar Z, Fatema K, Shoily SS, Sajib AA. (2023). Disease-associated metabolic pathways affected by heavy metals and metalloid. Toxicology Reports 10: 554–570. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2023.04.010

Irato P, Santovito G. (2021). Enzymatic and nonenzymatic molecules with antioxidant function. Antioxidants 10(4): 579. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10040579

Jollow DJ, Mitchell JR, Zampaglione N, Gillette JR. (1974). Bromobenzene-induced liver necrosis: protective role of glutathione and evidence for 3, 4-bromobenzene oxide as the hepatotoxic metabolite. Pharmacology 11(3): 151–157. https://doi.org/10.1159/000136485

Karabulut-Bulan O, Bolkent S, Yanardag R, Bilgin-Sokmen B. (2008). The role of vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium on cadmium-induced renal toxicity of rats. Drug and Chemical Toxicology 31(4): 413–426. https://doi.org/10.1080/01480540802383200

Karami E, Goodarzi Z, Ghanbari A, Bandegi AR, Yosefi S, Dehdashti A. (2022). In vivo antioxidant and kidney-protective potential of atorvastatin against cadmium chloride-induced kidney injury in male Wistar rat. All Life 15(1): 1025–1036. https://doi.org/10.1080/26895293.2022.2126900

Kielkopf CL, Bauer W, Urbatsch IL. (2020). Methods for measuring the concentrations of proteins. Cold Spring Harbor Protocols 2020: pdb.top102277. https://doi.org/10.1101/pdb.top102277

Nordberg GF, Nordberg M. (2025). Metallothionein and other factors influencing cadmium-induced kidney dysfunction: Review and commentary. Biomolecules 15(8): 1083. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15081083

Ohkawa H, Ohishi N, Yagi K. (1979). Assay for lipid peroxides in animal tissues by thiobarbituric acid reaction. Analytical Biochemistry 95(2): 351–358. https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-2697(79)90738-3

Okwuonu UC, Omotoso DR, Bienonwu EO, Adagbonyin O, Dappa J. (2020). Histomorphological profile of liver and kidney tissues of albino Wistar rats following exposure to cadmium-induced damage and ascorbic acid supplementation. Academia Anatomica International 6(1): 30–34. https://doi.org/10.21276/aanat.2020.6.1.7

Ouyang C, Ke H, Zhou J, Liu Y, Li P, Hu W, Deng L, Tang D. (2022). Renal injury induced by cadmium chloride and the protective effect of vitamin C in mice. Journal of Hygiene Research 51(5): 791–807. https://doi.org/10.19813/j.cnki.weishengyanjiu.2022.05.019

Poli V, Madduru R, Aparna Y, Kandukuri V, Motireddy SR. (2022). Amelioration of cadmium-induced oxidative damage in Wistar rats by Vitamin C, zinc and N-acetylcysteine. Medical Sciences 10(1): 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/medsci10010007

Prabu SM, Shagirtha K, Renugadevi J. (2010). Quercetin in combination with vitamins (C and E) improves oxidative stress and renal injury in cadmium-intoxicated rats. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences 14(11): 903–914.

Qu F, Zheng W. (2024). Cadmium exposure: Mechanisms and pathways of toxicity and implications for human health. Toxics 12(6): 388. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12060388

Shalan MG, El Hallous E, Shehata JY. (2018). Amelioration of cadmium food toxicity with ascorbic acid supplement. The Egyptian Journal of Experimental Biology (Zoology), 14(2): 99–111. https://doi.org/10.5455/egysebz.20180806095530

Weydert CJ, Cullen JJ. (2010). Measurement of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in cultured cells and tissue. Nature Protocols 5: 51–66. https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2009.197

Zhang K, Long M, Dong W, Li J, Wang, X, Liu W, Huang Q, Ping Y, Zou H, Song R, Liu G, Ran D, Liu Z. (2024). Cadmium induces kidney iron deficiency and chronic kidney injury by interfering with iron metabolism in rats. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 25(2): 763. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25020763

Downloads

Published

27-10-2026

How to Cite

Derbal, S., & Arabi, A. (2026). Vitamin C supplementation attenuates cadmium-associated renal biochemical and oxidative alterations in Wistar Albino rats: Vitamin C attenuates Cadmium Nephrotoxicity in rats. Letters in Animal Biology, 6(1), 177–182. https://doi.org/10.62310/liab.v6i1.424

Issue

Section

Research Articles
Recieved 2026-08-05
Accepted 2026-10-08
Published 2026-10-27