Sodium metabisulfite induces lipid peroxidation and apoptosis in rat gastric tissue.

Sodium metabisulfite (Na( 2)S(2)O(5)) is used as an antioxidant and antimicrobial agent in a variety of drugs and functions as a preservative in many food preparations. This study was performed to elucidate the dose-dependent effects of sodium metabisulfite ingestion on rat gastric tissue apoptotic changes and lipid peroxidation. Forty male wistar rats, aged 3 months were used. They were randomly divided into four groups: control (C), the group treated with Na(2)S(2)O(5) (10 mg/kg; S1), the group treated with Na(2)S(2)O(5) (100 mg/kg; S2), the group treated with Na(2)S(2)O(5) (260 mg/kg; S3). Na( 2)S(2)O(5) was given by intragastric intubation for 35 days. In the S2 and S3 groups, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased markedly when compared with the control group. High doses of sulfite administration elevated number of apoptotic cells both in mucosa and submucosa layers of stomach in parallel with increased MDA levels. These results suggest that sodium metabisulfite increased lipid peroxidation and thus number of apoptotic cells on gastric tissue in dose-dependent manner.