High-dose vitamin C: does it exacerbate the effect of psychosocial stress on liver? Biochemical and histological study

Abstract

Aim: Chronic stress has been implicated as a contributing factor in liver injury. However, other factors that can contribute to the severity of stress effect in liver injury have not been well characterized. In this study, the combined effect of chronic psychosocial stress and variable dosing levels of vitamin C on liver injury, have been studied.

Methods: Stress was chronically induced using intruder method. Vitamin C was administered by oral gavage. Both biochemical and histopathological measures were undertaken.

Results: The results showed that low (50mg/kg/day) and moderate (150 mg/kg/day) doses of vitamin C alone or in combination with chronic stress had no effect on liver. However, combination of high dose of vitamin C (500 mg/kg/day) and chronic stress induced various histopathological liver lesions in most of animals in the group that was stressed and supplemented with high dose vitamin C.

Conclusion: Results of this study show a dose-dependent effect for vitamin C in exacerbating stress contribution to liver injury.