Effect of Vitamin D 3 on Cadmium Retention by Laying Hens

The effect of cadmium (Cd) and vitamin D 3 on Cd retention in the organism of laying hens was observed. Hens ( n =48) were divided into eight groups with six animals per group as follows: experimental groups 1, 3 and 5 were administered Cd (0.3, 0.6 and 6.0 mg CdCl 2 kg -1 body weight, respectively) daily in water and groups 2, 4 and 6 were administered the same CdCl 2 concentrations supplemented with vitamin D 3 (100 IU hen -1 ). C1 was a control group without any supplements and C2 a control group supplemented only with vitamin D 3 . Samples of inner organs were analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry after 6 months of Cd exposure. A significant elevation in Cd levels, mainly in the liver and kidneys, was found. A significant decrease ( P h 0.01) in Cd levels in the liver was recorded after the addition of 6.0 mg CdCl 2 kg -1 body weight and vitamin D 3 , in comparison with the group without vitamin D 3 (18.76 vs. 10.33 mg kg -1 ). A similar decrease in Cd levels in the kidney ( P h 0.001) at the same supplementation dose of Cd was obtained in comparison with the group without vitamin D 3 (145.32 vs. 60.37 mg kg -1 ). The results confirmed that vitamin D 3 is able to reduce the Cd content in the organism of laying hens. The main effect of vitamin D 3 was demonstrated by decreasing Cd retention in the liver and especially in the kidneys.

Keywords:

• Cadmium
• Laying Hens
• Retention
• Vitamin D