Improvement of Serum Biochemical Parameters and Hematological Indices Through α-Tocopherol Administration in Dietary Oxidized Olive Oil Induced Toxicity in Rats

Dietary oxidized olive oil, alone or in combination with different doses of α-tocopherol, were given to Swiss albino rats for 30 days; in order to determine its role in oxidative stress and fatty liver, induced by the oxidized olive oils. Serum biochemical parameters and hematological indices of blood were analyzed. The liver was analyzed for histopathological changes, lipid peroxidation, and polar triacylglycerols composition. Results revealed that there was a significant decline in the serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, glucose and ALT; while a significant increase occurred in the serum HDL levels through the supplementation of α-tocopherol in male and female rats. Hematological parameters were almost in the normal reference range in the groups that were fed α-tocopherol, alone or in combination with oxidized oil, while being significantly altered by the oxidized olive oil. There were acute hepatitis and necrosis in the liver with no fatty changes after feeding with oxidized olive oil, along with varying doses of α-tocopherol. Higher amounts of polar compounds were present in female rats (15.2–93.1 μg/g) compared to male rats (12.2–82.3%) that correspond to the supplementation of α-tocopherol in combination with oxidized oil. Lipid oxidation in liver was minimized by tocopherol, while an increase occurred in the accumulation of oxidized lipids in the liver. These findings revealed that tocopherol is beneficial against the oxidized oil induced biochemical and hematological changes and lipid peroxidation but causes fatty accumulation in the liver. Therefore, the role of tocopherol in patients with fatty liver disease may be considered, as tocopherol may increase the chance of survival.