Nutr Res Pract.  2016 Feb;10(1):19-25. 10.4162/nrp.2016.10.1.19.

Protective effect of dietary chitosan on cadmium accumulation in rats

• Kim MY
• Shon WJ
• Park MN
• Lee YS
• Shin DM

• KMID: 2313896
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2016.10.1.19

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
Cadmium is a toxic metal that is an occupational and environmental concern especially because of its human carcinogenicity; it induces serious adverse effects in various organs and tissues. Even low levels of exposure to cadmium could be harmful owing to its extremely long half-life in the body. Cadmium intoxication may be prevented by the consumption of dietary components that potentially reduce its accumulation in the body. Dietary chitosan is a polysaccharide derived from animal sources; it has been known for its ability to bind to divalent cations including cadmium, in addition to other beneficial effects including hypocholesterolemic and anticancer effects. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of dietary chitosan in reducing cadmium accumulation using an in vivo system.
MATERIALS/METHODS
Cadmium was administered orally at 2 mg (three times per week) to three groups of Sprague-Dawley rats: control, low-dose, and high-dose (0, 3, and 5%, respectively) chitosan diet groups for eight weeks. Cadmium accumulation, as well as tissue functional and histological changes, was determined.
RESULTS
Compared to the control group, rats fed the chitosan diet showed significantly lower levels of cadmium in blood and tissues including the kidneys, liver, and femur. Biochemical analysis of liver function including the determination of aspartate aminotransferase and total bilirubin levels showed that dietary chitosan reduced hepatic tissue damage caused by cadmium intoxication and prevented the associated bone disorder.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that dietary chitosan has the potential to reduce cadmium accumulation in the body as well as protect liver function and bone health against cadmium intoxication.

Keyword

Chitosan; cadmium; liver function; bone disorder; mineral metabolism

MeSH Terms

Animals
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Bilirubin
Cadmium*
Cations, Divalent
Chitosan*
Diet
Femur
Half-Life
Humans
Kidney
Liver
Rats*
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Bilirubin
Cadmium
Cations, Divalent
Chitosan

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Cadmium accumulations and biochemical analysis for tissue damages of rats.Values are mean ± SE of 8 rats per group. 2 mg/day or 4 mg/day of cadmium was given to rats three times per week for four weeks. The levels of cadmium in blood and tissues were presented (A). Serum ALT, AST, BUN, and creatinine were measured (B) and representative H&E staining images for liver and kidney of rats administrated saline, low (2 mg/day), or high (4 mg/day) of cadmium were shown in panel (C). Values with different superscript are significantly different as determined by Duncan's multiple test.

• 

  Fig. 2 The levels of cadmium in blood and tissues of rats.Values are mean ± SE of 8 rats per group. Cd + CS0 indicates control group in which rats were fed normal diet containing 5% cellulose with 2 mg cadmium administration for 8 weeks; Cd + CS3, chitosan 3% diet + 2 mg cadmium administration; Cd + CS5, chitosan 5% diet + 2 mg cadmium administration. Values with different superscript are significantly different as determined by Duncan's multiple tests.

• 

  Fig. 3 The levels of calcium, alkaline phosphates, and breaking force in bones of rats.Values are mean ± SE of 8 rats per group. Cd + CS0 indicates control group in which rats were fed normal diet containing 5% cellulose with 2 mg cadmium administration for 8 weeks; Cd + CS3, chitosan 3% diet + 2 mg cadmium administration; Cd + CS5, chitosan 5% diet + 2 mg cadmium administration. Values with different superscript are significantly different as determined by Duncan's multiple tests.

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