Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Kafkas, 36040, Kars, Turkey.
This study was supported by the Research Fund of the University of Kafkas.
To study the effect of kefir given to the rats, which have been developed oxidative stress through administration of lead, 36 rats were divided into 4 groups, the control group, the lead group, lead and kefir group and kefir group. After 6 weeks of treatment, blood levels of the glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), vitamin E, β-carotene and retinol were determined. The GSH level in the lead group was significantly lower (P<0.05) than that in the control group and the MDA level was higher (p<0.05). On supplementing kefir with or without lead, these levels became similar to control group. Vit E increased by kefir supplementation. Thus kefir may indeed prevent the oxidative damage induced by lead and strengthen antioxidant system.
Lead, kefir, antioxidant system, rat
