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Drug Res (Stuttg)
DOI: 10.1055/a-2734-1920
Original Article

Investigating the Protective Role of Vitamin D Supplementation on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Liver Enzyme Alterations in Adult Male Rats

Authors

  • Tania Nazem

    1   Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Isfahan Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran (the Islamic Republic of) (Ringgold ID: RIN48455)

  • Ali Hosseini-Sharifabad

    2   Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran (Ringgold ID: RIN48494)

  • Mohammad Reza Mofid

    1   Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Isfahan Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran (the Islamic Republic of) (Ringgold ID: RIN48455)

  • Mohammad Hashemnia

    3   Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran (the Islamic Republic of) (Ringgold ID: RIN125635)

  • Habib-Allah Nazem

    4   Payame Noor University, Isfahan, Iran (the Islamic Republic of) (Ringgold ID: RIN125635)

  • Adel Mohammadalipour 

    1   Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Isfahan Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran (the Islamic Republic of) (Ringgold ID: RIN48455)

The present work was an approved project of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran (Project number: IR.MUI.AEC.1402.048) and the authors acknowledge them for financial support and facilities.
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Abstract

Cyclophosphamide is known to cause liver dysfunction. This study investigated the protective role of vitamin D supplementation against cyclophosphamide -induced liver dysfunction in adult male rats. The rats receiving cyclophosphamide were treated with vitamin D at doses of 1,000 and 3,000 IU/kg. At the end of the study period, biochemical and histopathological evaluations were conducted after the animals were sacrificed. The levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, nitric oxide, and bilirubin were significantly elevated in the cyclophosphamide group compared to the control group (p<0.001). Conversely, these levels were significantly decreased in the vitamin D treatment groups (p<0.01). Additionally, the activities of the catalase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly lower in the cyclophosphamide group than in controls (p<0.01), while they increased significantly in the vitamin D groups (p<0.001). According to a semi-quantitative scoring system, the highest scores for pathological lesions were observed in the cyclophosphamide group, with lower scores in the vitamin D groups. The differences between the cyclophosphamide group and both treated groups were statistically significant (p<0.05). These results indicate that vitamin D, through its antioxidant properties, positively influenced liver enzyme levels altered by cyclophosphamide.

Keywords

Adverse drug reactions - Toxicology - Chemical biology


Publication History

Received: 30 September 2025

Accepted: 28 October 2025

Article published online:
25 November 2025

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