Effects of Selenium Fortified Diet on Inflammatory Markers in Wistar Albino Rats Exposed to Crude Oil

Abstract

 A number of studies have shown that crude oil and related chemicals are harmful to the body. As a result of this, the means of mitigating these harmful effects needs to be investigated. Hence, this study was designed to investigate the ameliorative role of selenium as a potential antidote for crude oil induced toxicity. Forty male albino rats were disseminated into groups A and B. Animals in group A was fed with normal diet for one month while those in group B were fed with crude oil adulterated diet (COAD) for the same duration as those in group A. Six rats from each group was used to determine liver function enzyme activity, so as to establish the hepatotoxicity of crude oil adulterated diet on the liver of the exposed animals. Thereafter, rats in group B were allocated into three groups (B1, B2 and B3) of six rats each. All the rats were then given normal diets except those in group B2 and B3 whose diets were supplemented with sodium selenite of 0.5μg Se/g diet and 1.0μg Se/g diet respectively. The rats were exposed to these diet and water for three months. At the end of this period, inflammatory markers parameters (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, ceruloplasmin and creatinine), antioxidants enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase, MnSOD, Cu/ZnSOD), lipid peroxidation, lipid profile markers and liver function enzymes were estimated. The results indicated that treatment of diet with selenium modulated the crude oil-induced inflammation. It is of note therefore, that selenium has a promising role and it is worth being considered as a potent remedy against crude oil-induced biochemical toxicity.