Effectiveness of combined treatment using Spirulina and vitamin A against chronic arsenicosis in rats

Abstract

Chronic arsenicosis remains a condition of public health concerns in many countries of the world and has been linked to many other diseases. This condition has been managed in humans using a combination of therapy with differing outcomes. We conducted a controlled experiment to assess the effect of chronic arsenicosis on hematological and biochemical changes in Long-Evans rats and to assess the protective role of Spirulina combined with vitamin A following experimental arsenicosis, using daily oral doses of sodium arsenite for 63 days. The values of SGOT (Serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase) and SC (Serum creatinine) increased significantly (P<0.01) in all the treated groups of rats (T1, T2, T3 and T4) compared to the control (T0) group, but Spirulina combined with Vitamin A produced values significantly comparable to the untreated control group. Whereas SGPT (Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase) showed slight significance differences among the treatment groups, Spirulina combined with Vitamin A appeared most effective in managing arsenic treatment. Spirulina + Vitamin A increased the values of TEC, TLC and Hb (Total erythrocyte count, Total leukocyte count and Hemoglobin) against arsenic toxicity in rats but showed no significance differences. In conclusion, the combination of Spirulina and vitamin A were found more effective in the prevention of chronic arsenicosis in rat than using these substances (Spirulina or Vitamin A) alone.