Effect of vitamin supplementation on lipid peroxidation caused by methotrexate in rats

The methotrexate (MTX) is an antitumoral agent, acting like an antagonist of the folic acid and the administration of the MTX increases free radical production and induces hepatorenal oxidative injury in rats. The aim of the present study was to assess the value of adding a high dose of vitamin mixture to rats in lipid peroxidation provoked by methotrexate, and the role of vitamin E against the free radical production. The study utilized 40 rats subdivided in 4 groups: Group A received a diet with 3 times the recommendation of vitamin mixture according to American Institute of Nutrition diets for rodents, published in 1993 (AIN93); Group B, the same diet with normal, one time, vitamin mixture according to AIN93; rats in Group C received a diet with 3 times vitamin mixture according to American Institute of Nutrition diets for rodents, published in 1976 (AIN76); Group D, the same diet with normal, one time, vitamin mixture according to AIN76. The increase in hepatic vitamin E and glutathione and decrease of lipid peroxidation levels with suplemmentation of 3 times vitamin mixture can be able to protect for the possible adverse effects of the MTX administration in the oxidative stress in rats.