Drinking water containing nitrites in Sohag Governorate-Egypt, induced biochemical and hematological alterations in male albino rats: mitigation by vitamin C and cod liver oil

This study measured nitrite concentrations in eighty groundwater samples collected from Sohag Governorate, Egypt, and assessed the biochemical effects of nitrites on male rats. The Nazat El Hajer well in Juhayna City showed the highest nitrite concentration (0.92 mg/L), exceeding the allowable long-term exposure limit of 0.2 mg/kg. Additionally, we assessed the palliative effects of vitamin C and cod liver oil, as antioxidants, in reducing nitrite-induced toxicity in male rats. Seventy-five adult male rats were divided into five groups; GI: control; GII: drinking water (Nazat El Hajer) for 3 months; GIII: sodium nitrite (80 mg/kg BW) for 3 months; GIV: sodium nitrite for 45 days followed by vitamin C (80 mg/kg BW) daily for 45 days; GV: sodium nitrite for 45 days followed by cod liver oil (80 mg/kg BW) daily for 45 days. Results showed a significant increase in serum AST, ALT, ALP, creatinine, urea, and interleukin-6, along with a significant decrease in TAC, catalase, albumin, cytochrome-c- oxidase, hemoglobin, and RBCs in the nitrite-treated groups. These findings indicate that high concentrations of nitrites caused marked hepatic and hematologic toxicity. Furthermore, both the vitamin C and cod liver oil groups exhibited significant improvement in all measured parameters.