Protection by vitamin E selenium, trolox C, ascorbic acid palmitate, acetylcysteine, coenzyme Q, beta-carotene, canthaxanthin, and (+)-catechin against oxidative damage to liver slices measured by oxidized heme proteins.

Male SD rats were fed a vitamin E- and selenium-deficient diet, a diet supplemented with vitamin E and selenium, and diets supplemented with vitamin E, selenium, trolox C, ascorbic acid palmitate, acetylcysteine, beta-carotene, canthaxanthin, coenzyme Q0, coenzyme Q10, and (+)-catechin. Liver slices were incubated at 37 degrees C with and without CBrCl3, t-butyl-hydroperoxide, Fe+2, or Cu+2. The effect of antioxidant nutrients on the oxidative damage to rat liver was studied by measurement of the production of oxidized heme proteins (OHP) during the oxidative reactions. Diet supplemented with vitamin E and selenium showed a strong protection against heme protein oxidation compared to the antioxidant-deficient diet. Furthermore, increasing the diversity and quantity of antioxidants in the diets provided significantly more protection.