Publication Date

8-1-1997

Degree Program

Department of Biology

Degree Type

Master of Science

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine if vitamin E and selenium could have a positive synergistic effect during experimental Chagas' disease. In the first phase of the study, 25 female C3HeB/FeJ mice were infected with a Brazil strain of Trypanosoma cruzi while receiving vitamin E supplementation of 0 IU/kg, 200 IU/kg, 400 IU/kg, 600 IU/kg, 800 IU/kg in their diets. In the second phase, 20 female C3HeB/FeJ mice were infected while receiving 400 IU/kg vitamin E plus selenium supplementation of 2 ppm, 4 ppm, 8 ppm, 16 ppm in their drinking water. The results demonstrate that vitamin E does have a protective effect during experimental Chagas' disease. There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) observed between the vitamin E-deficient mice and mice supplemented with vitamin E. The results of this study also suggest that combined vitamin E and selenium supplementation provides an even greater benefit than either antioxidant alone in mice infected with T. cruzi. A statistically significant difference was observed (p<0.01) between vitamin E supplemented mice and mice supplemented with vitamin E and selenium. The beneficial effects observed included: reduced parasitemia, increased survival rate, and reduced weight loss during infection. In this study, the combination of 400 IU/kg vitamin E and 8 ppm selenium provided the best overall protective effect during experimental Chagas' disease.

Disciplines

Medical Sciences

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