Impact of The Ageing on Oxidant/Antioxidant Balance And Hematology of Indigenous Cow and Its Amelioration by Ascorbic Acid

Ageing is a complex biological process of all flora and fauna. It leads to a gradual reduction in the ability to maintain homeostasis under internal physiological and external environmental stresses, hence reducing the viability of individual's and increasing their vulnerability to diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the alteration in the oxidant /antioxidant balance and hematology in four different age group of indigenous Tharparkar cattle and its amelioration by ascorbic acid. A total 24 female Tharparkar cattle were included and were categorized into 4 groups of six cows in each group. Animals below 1 year-age were kept in group I, between 1 to 8 year-age in group II, between 8-10 year-age in group III and above 10 year-age in group IV. The oxidant/antioxidant markers (LPO, SOD, GSH, GPX and catalase activity) and haematological panels (Hb, TEC, TLC, Platelet and DLC) were determined on day 0, before ascorbic acid supplementation, and on day 6, 12, 18 and 24 post ascorbic acid supplementation. In the present study LPO and SOD levels were significantly (P < 0.05) increased with the ageing. GSH and GPX activities significantly (P < 0.05) decreased with ageing in different age groups. Variations in hematological parameters were also observed with ageing in different age groups. The geriatric cattle (> 10 years) exhibited remarkable alteration in oxidative stress indices, and haematological panels when compared to other groups. Supplementation of ascorbic acid reduced the oxidative stress and improved hemoglobin, PCV, TEC and TLC levels. From the findings of this study, it can be inferred that administration of ascorbic acid is helpful in ameliorating altered oxidant/antioxidant balance and hematological parameters with ageing in various age groups of cattle.

Effect of ascorbic acid supplementation on pulmonary functions in healthy adults: a randomized controlled pilot study

Objectives The fact that oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of various pulmonary diseases is supported by the beneficial effect of antioxidants. It is also well known that an altered oxidant-antioxidant balance after the age of 35 years increases the susceptibility to develop obstructive lung diseases later in life. Given this, the present study was designed to evaluate the effect of antioxidant supplementation on lung functions in healthy adults after the age of 35 years. Methods Persons of age ≥35 years (n=45) were randomized into three arms (each comprising 15 participants) to receive either no intervention (NI arm), ascorbic acid 250 mg daily (AA250 arm), or ascorbic acid 500 mg daily (AA500 arm) for 6 weeks. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were measured at baseline and 6 weeks. Persons of age group (20–30 years) were also enrolled in the study to compare their lung functions and cardiovascular parameters at baseline with those ≥35 years of age. All the adverse events experienced by participants were recorded. Results Baseline pulmonary functions were found to be comparable among the three study arms and compared to ≥35 years age group, these parameters were found to be better in the younger age group (20–30 years). Most of the pulmonary functions were comparable among the three study arms at 6 weeks. A significant improvement in PEF and % predicted PEF was noted in AA250 arm when compared to baseline values (p=0.049 and 0.026, respectively) and in participants with normal pulmonary functions when compared to those with reduced functions at baseline (p=0.059 and p=0.037). Conclusions Although ascorbic acid did not affect most of the pulmonary functions in healthy adults, it improved PEF and % predicted PEF at a daily dose of 250 mg. In this regard, it was found effective in individuals with normal pulmonary indices at baseline.

Ascorbic Acid Supplementation Attenuates Hippocampal Neuronal Damage in Orchiectomized Rats

Understanding the bidirectional relationship in the cellular and molecular mechanisms associated with testosterone deprivation and cognitive activities has become a high-priority goal. Testosterone has been shown to have effects in the nervous system, ranging from targeting gene expression to modulating neurotransmission. This study therefore evaluated the modulatory role of ascorbic acid in the hippocampus of orchiectomized rats. Twenty-one adult male Wistar rats with an average weight of 170g±10g were randomly assigned into three groups of seven rats each; the control, orchiectomized (orchiectomy+flutamide, 11 mg/kg body weight, bw), and ascorbic acid (orchiectomy+flutamide, 11 mg/kg bw + ascorbic acid, 100 mg/kg bw). Treatment was by oral gavage and lasted for 30 days. Nitrosative stress and neuroinflammatory analysis, hormonal, histological and immunohistochemical expression of astrocytes in the hippocampus were examined. Results showed significantly increased expression of acetylcholinesterase, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and tumour necrotic factor-alpha in the hippocampus of orchiectomized animals. There was altered cytoarchitectural morphology evidenced by reduced Nissl profiles in neuronal axons and dendrites, which corresponded to apoptotic changes, and increased expression of reactive astrocytes suggesting neuronal damage. Nitrosative stress and inflammatory perturbations were well modulated in animals treated with ascorbic acid with unaltered hippocampal morphology. The results indicated that decline in brain androgen activities caused inflammatory and oxidative stress-driven alterations in the hippocampus, while ascorbic acid supplementation offered therapeutic value by modulating neurochemicals and scavenging free radicals in the hippocampus.

EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL ASCORBIC ACID AND DISTURBANCE STRESS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS

The study was conducted with four hundred day-old Anak broilers to determine the effects of dietary Ascorbic acid (AA) and disturbance (D) stress on the performance of broiler chickens in a tropical environment. There were four treatments consisting of two levels of disturbance (ID) and (4D) and two levels of dietary AA (0 and 250mgAA/kg feed). Each treatment was replicated four times with 25 chicks per replicate. The starter and finisher diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Results showed that there were no significant interactions between dietary ascorbic acid supplementation and disturbance stress levels on any of the performance data considered. The disturbance stress had no significant effects on most of the measured parameters. However, there was # 35% increase in mortality rate as disturbance stress level increased from D to 4D. The dietary ascorbic acid supplementation level had no significant effect on feed intake and weight gain. Feed conversion ratios were significantly improved with AA supplementation during the starter phase only. Dietary AA supplementation also had a 90% reduction in mortality of chicks compared with the supplemented group. Likewise AA inclusion in diets had a feed cost advantage. It may be concluded that disturbance induced stress increased mortality and lowered performance. However these effects were relieved by dietary AA supplementation.