Role of Vitamins A, C, E and Seleniumin Preventing Heavy Metals Toxicity in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

This study was carried out to investigate the potential effects of sublethal concentration (5 mg.L-1) of
combined heavy metals (1.25 mg.L-1 of each) including cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) on Nile
tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus after exposure for 1, 3, 5 and 7 days in order to evaluate the protective role of vitamin E
and combination of selenium (Se) with vitamins A, C and E against the toxicity of these heavy metals. Exposure of O.
niloticusto heavy metals only for 1, 3, 5 and 7 days resulted a significant increase in the values of antioxidant enzymes
(GSH, CAT, GST, GR and GPx) in liver and gills of O. niloticus. While the exposure to the mixture of heavy metals
and vitamin E or heavy metals with selenium protected the liver and gill of O. niloticus. The activities of antioxidant
substances and free radicals (SOD, GSH, GSSG, TAC and MDA) formation were also determined after 1, 3, 5 and 7
days of exposure to heavy metals only or heavy metals with vitamin E or selenium. Antioxidants (both enzymatic and
nonenzymatic) can provide protection against deleterious metal-mediated free radical attacks. Vitamin E and
combination of selenium (Se) with vitamins A, C and E prevent the majority of metal-mediated (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn)
damage. Therefore, this study confirms on the powerful protective potential of the antioxidants vitamin E alone and a
combination of selenium with vitamins A, C and E against the toxicity of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn on O. niloticus.