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Effects of Nutritional and Excessive Levels of Selenium on Red Blood Cells of Rats Fed a High Cholesterol Diet

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Abstract

In this study, we investigated the effects of selenium (Se) on the properties of erythrocytes and atherogenic index in the presence and absence of high cholesterol diet (HCD). The effect of selected two different doses (1 μg and 50 μg Se/kg/body weight) on HCD-induced oxidative stress was investigated. The hemolysis of the erythrocytes of the HCD rats as well as by high levels of selenium or their combination was markedly increased. Likewise, atherogenic index and plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were significantly increased in the same groups of rats compared to control ones. In contrast, paraoxonase activity, glutathione levels and protein thiol levels, catalase, GPx, and superoxide dismutase activities were significantly decreased in rats that received the HCD, high selenium dose, or their combination. Malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl levels in the plasma and red blood cells were significantly increased by HCD and high selenium dose administration. Co-administration of selenium at low dose with or without an HCD restored all of the investigated parameters to near-normal values. The results of this study suggest that excess selenium administration with HCD worsens the atherogenic index and enhances formation of oxidized red blood cells. At dosage levels in the nutritional range such as 1 μg Se/kg body weight, selenium ameliorates the atherogenic index and preserves the antioxidant capacity of the erythrocytes.

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Acknowledgment

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University for funding the study through the research group project no. RGPVPP139.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia

    Gamaleldin I. Harisa & Gamal Shazly

  2. Department of Biochemistry, College of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University (Boys), Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt

    Gamaleldin I. Harisa

  3. Department Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University (Boys), Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt

    Osama M. Abo-Salem & El-sayed M. El-sayed

  4. Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia

    Osama M. Abo-Salem

  5. Department of Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt

    Gamal Shazly

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  1. Gamaleldin I. Harisa
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Correspondence to Gamaleldin I. Harisa.

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Harisa, G.I., Abo-Salem, O.M., El-sayed, Es.M. et al. Effects of Nutritional and Excessive Levels of Selenium on Red Blood Cells of Rats Fed a High Cholesterol Diet. Biol Trace Elem Res 152, 41–49 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-012-9588-1

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