Study of oxidative damage in growing-finishing pigs with continuous excess dietary chromium picolinate intake

Biol Trace Elem Res. 2008 Winter;126(1-3):129-40. doi: 10.1007/s12011-008-8207-7. Epub 2008 Aug 14.

Abstract

Chromium picolinate (CrPic) is a popular nutritional supplement; however, its safety has been questioned as it may be a source of oxidative stress that induces genotoxicity. The current work investigated the effect of excessive CrPic intake on oxidative damage in growing-finishing pigs. Thirty castrated male pigs, weighing approximately 30 kg each, were randomly divided into five groups and fed a diet with 0, 200, 800, 1,600, 3,200 microg of Cr/kg feed as CrPic for 80 days (approximately the entire growing-finishing period). High CrPic dose significantly decreased superoxide dismutase activity in serum at 80 days as well as the catalase activity in kidney (p < 0.05); however, compared to controls, malondialdehyde in tissue and serum, urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine level, and DNA strand breaks in liver and kidney had no notable differences (p > 0.05). These results suggested that long-term exposure to different doses of CrPic in feed did not increase the formation of biomarkers of oxidative damage in growing-finishing pigs. However, taking into account the changes of antioxidant enzymes activity, excessive dietary CrPic intake was not recommended in this study.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine / analogs & derivatives
  • Animals
  • Catalase / metabolism
  • Dietary Supplements / toxicity*
  • Guanine / analogs & derivatives
  • Guanine / urine
  • Kidney / drug effects
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Malondialdehyde / blood
  • Malondialdehyde / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Picolinic Acids / administration & dosage
  • Picolinic Acids / toxicity*
  • Superoxide Dismutase / blood
  • Swine

Substances

  • Picolinic Acids
  • Malondialdehyde
  • Guanine
  • 8-oxo-7,8-dihydrodeoxyguanine
  • 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine
  • Catalase
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • picolinic acid