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Toxicity of cholecalciferol overdosage in white albino mice
Abstract
Background: Irrational prescription and use of vitamins is rife in our society today. Being fat-soluble, vitamin D (cholecalciferol) easily accumulates in the body when the recommended daily allowance is exceeded. There is need to determine the effect of this vitamin overdosage in animals and possibly extrapolate the findings to human beings.
Aim: To determine subacute and chronic toxicity of cholecalciferol overdosage in white albino mice.
Methods: Increasing doses of cholecalciferol were given to three groups of white albino mice per ora after acute toxicity test. A fourth group was given normal saline as control. Exposure period was 22 days and 12 weeks for subacute and chronic toxicity tests respectively. Thereafter, serum levels of alkaline phosphate, total calcium and inorganic phosphate as well as histological sections of the liver, kidney and stomach were examined. Data were analyzed and p values < 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: Acute toxicity test gave LD50 of 9,747 iu/kg. There was statistically significant increase in all parameters examined in all groups of mice when compared with controls (p = 0.0001 for all groups). Histological sections of organs showed severe degeneration of liver architecture, inflammation of glomerular and tubular regions of the kidney as well as ulceration of the stomach mucosa and submucosa.
Conclusion: High doses of vitamin D were toxic to white albino mice. Further studies are needed to determine the effect on liver and kidney functions by measuring serum transaminases and urea/creatinine respectively.
Keywords: Cholecalciferol overdosage, Toxicity tests, Alkaline phosphatase, Histological sections
Aim: To determine subacute and chronic toxicity of cholecalciferol overdosage in white albino mice.
Methods: Increasing doses of cholecalciferol were given to three groups of white albino mice per ora after acute toxicity test. A fourth group was given normal saline as control. Exposure period was 22 days and 12 weeks for subacute and chronic toxicity tests respectively. Thereafter, serum levels of alkaline phosphate, total calcium and inorganic phosphate as well as histological sections of the liver, kidney and stomach were examined. Data were analyzed and p values < 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: Acute toxicity test gave LD50 of 9,747 iu/kg. There was statistically significant increase in all parameters examined in all groups of mice when compared with controls (p = 0.0001 for all groups). Histological sections of organs showed severe degeneration of liver architecture, inflammation of glomerular and tubular regions of the kidney as well as ulceration of the stomach mucosa and submucosa.
Conclusion: High doses of vitamin D were toxic to white albino mice. Further studies are needed to determine the effect on liver and kidney functions by measuring serum transaminases and urea/creatinine respectively.
Keywords: Cholecalciferol overdosage, Toxicity tests, Alkaline phosphatase, Histological sections
