Effect of Addition of Certain Antioxidants on the Metabolism of Cadmium and Other Nutrients in Dietary Cadmium Exposed Guinea Pigs

Seventy healthy guinea pigs (261.1 +/- 2.18 g mean BW) were divided into seven equal groups. While no cadmium (Cd) was added in the control group (TO), 10 ppm Cd was added in remaining all the groups along with zinc (Zn) @ 0 (T1), 50 (T2) and 100 ppm (T3), selenium (Se) @ 0.2 (T4) and 0.4 ppm (T5) and vitamin E @ 100 IU/kg diet (T6). Experimental feeding lasted for 70d including a 4d metabolic trial. The results showed that supplementation of 10 ppm Cd in the diet had no effect on intake and digestibility of DM, OM, CP, EE, NDF, ADF, cellulose and hemicelluloses and retention of N, Ca, P, Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn. However, absorption as well as retention of Cd was significantly (P<0.05) higher in all the Cd treated groups (T1 to T6) as compared to control (TO), but it was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in all the groups supplemented with antioxidants with highest reduction in group T3 (100 ppm Zn) and T6 (100 IU vitamin E) as compared to group T1. Overall, the results indicated that supplementation of either 100 ppm Zn or 100 IU vitamin E could largely reduce the absorption and retention of dietary Cd in the guinea pigs given 10 ppm Cd in their diet.