Effect of Vitamin E on Lipid Peroxidation and Oxidative Stress in Traumatic Brain Injury-Induced Rats

Objective: A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant contributor to both death and disability globally. This research was formulated to explore the potential impact of antioxidants in the management of experimentally induced TBI in albino rats.

Methodology: Adult albino rats were subjected to traumatic brain injury using the weight drop method. The rats were divided into three sets, each consisting of ten rats. In Group I, the rats were exposed to trauma and then received treatment (referred to as the traumatized-treated group, TT). In Group II, the rats were neither traumatized nor treated (referred to as the non-traumatized, non-treated group, TNT). Lastly, Group III comprised the normal control group. The treatment group (TT) was administered a dose of 67.5mg/kg of vitamin E (VE). Treatment commenced 30 minutes after the traumatic event and persisted for a duration of 21 days. To assess oxidative stress (OS), various antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum tissue, were analyzed.

Results: The group that received treatment exhibited a significant (p<0.05) rise in the levels of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx), while there was a notable (p<0.05) reduction in the MDA concentration when compared to the non-traumatized, non-treated (TNT) group.

Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the utilization of the antioxidant vitamin E (VE) could serve as a valuable neuroprotective approach in the management of traumatic brain injuries (TBI).