Effect of wheat bran and flaxseed on cadmium effects and retention in rats

• Published in: Human & experimental toxicology 2011-08, Vol.30 (8), p.981-991
• Main Authors: Callegaro, MGK, Milbradt, BG, Alves, E., Diettrich, T., Kemerich, DM, Hausen, BS, Duarte, FA, Flores, EMM, Dressler, VL, Emanuelli, T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Body Weight - drug effects; Cadmium; Cadmium Chloride - pharmacokinetics; Cadmium Chloride - poisoning; Cadmium Poisoning - diet therapy; Cadmium Poisoning - metabolism; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Dietary fiber; Dietary Fiber - therapeutic use; Environmental Pollutants - pharmacokinetics; Environmental Pollutants - poisoning; Flax; Flax - chemistry; Kidney - drug effects; Kidney - metabolism; Kidney Function Tests; Liver - drug effects; Liver - metabolism; Liver Function Tests; Male; Medical sciences; Metals and various inorganic compounds; Organ Size - drug effects; Plant Preparations - chemistry; Plant Preparations - therapeutic use; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Rodents; Seeds - chemistry; Solubility; Toxicity; Toxicology; Triticum aestivum; Wheat
• ISSN: 0960-3271; 1477-0903
• DOI: 10.1177/0960327110384526

Dietary fiber can affect cadmium (Cd) absorption and toxicity, but the effect appears to depend on the type of dietary fiber. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of dietary sources containing distinct amounts of soluble and insoluble fiber on Cd absorption, accumulation and toxicity in growing rats. The absorption of essential macrominerals (Ca, P and Mg) was also evaluated. Animals received a nutritionally balanced diet with cellulose (cel — control), wheat bran or flaxseed as the fiber source with 0 or 50 mg Cd kg-1 diet, during 30 days. Cd exposure reduced body weight gain, feed efficiency ratio, epididymal fat relative weight and liver relative weight, and increased plasma alanine aminotransferase activity in all fiber groups. The apparent Cd absorption was similar among Cd-groups, but the flax-Cd group had a higher hepatic and renal Cd concentration. Cd decreased the absorption of Ca and P, and increased Mg absorption in the wheat bran and flaxseed groups, but not in the cel group. Although the different fiber sources investigated had no effect on Cd toxicity, the major soluble fiber source, flaxseed, increased Cd retention. Thus, caution should be taken in the intake of flaxseed by Cd-exposed populations.