Background: This study was conducted to investigate whether vitamin C can protect against plasma biochemical changes induced by lead poisoning in Cyprinus carpio. Methods: Three groups of common carp (n=30/group) were used in this study. Group 1 served as control, Group 2 was exposed to lead acetate (5 mg/L) for 15 days, and Group 3 received vitamin C (500 mg/kg) during the same duration of lead exposure. Results: The blood lead concentrations in Groups 2 and 3 showed a significant rise as compared to that in the control group (p<0.05). Also, the plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration increased considerably following in groups exposed to lead acetate, compared to that in controls. Vitamin C supplementation decreased the rise in plasma MDA insignificantly, compared that in Group 2. The plasma values of creatinine and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increased in Group 2 compared to that in controls. Also, vitamin C treatment significantly decreased plasma ALT and creatinine concentrations, compared to those in Group 2. Values of other plasma parameters including aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, gammaglutamyl transferase, albumin, glucose, total protein, cholesterol, urea, uric acid and triglyceride showed no significant alterations among the treatment groups. Conclusion: The results suggest that vitamin C have some beneficial effects against lead toxicity in common carp. However, elucidation of the precise mechanism of the protective effects of vitamin C against lead toxicity warrants further investigations.

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