Synergistic effect of folic acid and vitamin B12 in ameliorating arsenic-induced oxidative damage in pancreatic tissue of rat

The efficacies of two nutritional factors, folic acid and vitamin B12, were assessed in this study against arsenic-induced islet cellular toxicity. Rats were divided into four groups consisting of five rats in each group: Group A, control; Group B, arsenic-treated; Group C, arsenic+folic acid; and Group D, arsenic+folic acid+vitamin B12. The dose of arsenic, folic acid and vitamin B12, respectively, was 3 mg, 36 μg and 0.63 μg kg−1 body weight day−1 for 30 days. Results showed that, compared to control group, there was a significant increase in the levels of nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydroxyl radical (OH−) formation in the pancreatic tissue of arsenic-treated rats, while the activity of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and cellular content of antioxidant glutathione (GSH) were low in these animals. The serum level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and IL-6 was significantly high in these animals. Light microscopic examination showed a marked fall in the number of islet cells. Concomitant administration of either folic acid or folic acid and vitamin B12 with arsenic significantly restored all these parameters. Although folic acid alone could not restore the normal level of TNF-α and IL-6, combined folic acid and vitamin B12 could restore it. Folic acid and vitamin B12 combined also could recover islet cell count. These results suggest that folic acid+vitamin B12 are capable of reducing arsenic-induced cellular oxidative and inflammatory toxic changes. Thus, supplement with vitamin B12+folic acid may be predicted as a possible nutritional management strategy against arsenic-induced toxicity.