Background: Arsenic is widely distributed in the environment. The main routes of absorption of inorganic arsenic compounds are the lungs and the gastrointestinal tract. Arsenates both (III) and (V) are absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract in 55-95%, while the organic arsenic compounds in 75-85%. Arsenic poisoning leads to damage the activities and morphological changes in the stomach and intestines, causing the occurrence of nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Arsenic compounds may also be the cause of the development of certain cancers (lung, skin and liver). The first changes caused by arsenic poisoning usually remain unnoticed. Arsenic affects haematological and both lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. It also causes changes in the organs involved in metabolism, so biochemical parameters or enzymes activity are therefore a good indicator of poisoning changes.
Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the influence of protein and fat content in diet on selected biochemical blood parameters in rats.
Material and methods: Rats (11 groups n = 88) were fed with 5 types of diet: control, low-protein, high-protein, low-fat and high-fat. Animals received water without arsenic (control group) or water with 10 or 20 µg As/mL.
Results: In animals fed a low protein diets, regardless of the dose of arsenic, it was a decreasing of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose in serum observed, compared to the control group. In the groups fed with low-protein diet revealed a significantly less damage in the liver as compared to the control group. In animals fed high-protein diets and with varying addition of arsenic a significant higher concentration of various biochemical parameters were found, in comparison to the respective control groups. In animals fed the high protein diet and poisoned with 20 µg As/mL of the arsenic significantly higher liver damage were found, compared to control group.
Conclusions: Symptoms of arsenic hepatotoxicity measured with enzyme activity were highest in the groups of animals fed with low-protein diet. The parameters of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism depended mostly on diet than the dose of arsenic.