ABSTRACT

Chronic environmental and occupational exposure to cadmium can result in skeletal system changes. The main objective of the present study was to investigate and compare the effects of taurine, melatonin and N-acetyl cysteine on cadmium exposure induced bone density loss.

90 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated into four main groups: Group I was the control group; Group II was the “cadmium exposure” group; Group 3 was “cadmium exposure for 3 months + concurrent antioxidant administration” group. The concept of Group 4 was cadmium exposure for 3 months + subsequent antioxidant administration. Bone mineral density values were evaluated in all the groups. Serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme activities and 24 hours urine calcium excretion levels were measured. Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare the all groups. Between two group comparisons, the Mann–Whitney U test was used.

There was no significant difference in terms of bone mineral density values only between control group and cadmium exposure group (p>0.05). Mean bone mineral density values obtained in “cadmium + concurrent taurine” and “cadmium + subsequent taurine” groups were significantly lower than all the other groups (p<0.05). 24 hours urine calcium excretion levels were significantly higher in groups which taurine and n-asetylcystein were administered after cadmium exposure.

Taurine, which is thought to have protective effects as an antioxidant caused a marked bone damage after exposure to cadmium. Further studies are needed to clarify this effect of taurine.