Concentration-Dependent Antioxidant/Pro-Oxidant Activity of Ascorbic Acid in Chickens

The effects of ascorbic acid supplementation on biomarkers of oxidative stress, cadmium accumulation in organs, immune system activity and kidney function in chickens were investigated. The treatment groups of chickens were fed either plain diet or diet supplemented with ascorbic acid at 100, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg for four weeks. Liver and kidney tissues were assayed for cadmium concentration, and the hepatic levels of ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA; the oxidised form), malondialdehyde, glutathione, activity of glutathione peroxidase, blood serum uric acid, creatinine, lysozyme and circulating immune complexes were measured. Supplementation with a high dose of ascorbic acid (1000 and 2000 mg/kg in the diet) caused an imbalance between pro-oxidative and antioxidative activities, and induced a suppressive effect on innate immunity. The results suggest that oxidative stress compromises renal function. We observed that ascorbic acid increased cadmium accumulation in a dose-dependent manner.