HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS

Arsenic exposure remains a major global health challenge, and sodium arsenite is one of the most toxic inorganic arsenic compounds known to cause severe hematological, oxidative, and immunological disturbances. This study examined the protective effects of vitamin E against sodium arsenite–induced changes in hematological parameters in Wistar rats. Thirty-five male rats were randomly divided into five groups of seven: a control group, a vitamin E–only group (50 mg/kg), a sodium arsenite–only group (10 mg/kg), and two co-treatment groups receiving sodium arsenite with either 25 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg of vitamin E. All treatments were given orally for 14 days, after which blood samples were collected for hematological analysis. Results showed that sodium arsenite caused significant hematotoxicity, marked by reductions in red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), lymphocyte percentage, and monocyte levels, along with increases in white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil levels, and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). These changes indicate anemia, oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune suppression linked to arsenic toxicity. Co-administration of vitamin E significantly reduced these effects in a dose-dependent manner. The 50 mg/kg dose of vitamin E showed the greatest improvement across all hematological parameters, demonstrating its superior protective effects. The findings suggest that vitamin E effectively reduces sodium arsenite–induced hematological damage through its strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and membrane-stabilizing properties. This study highlights the potential of vitamin E as a natural antioxidant therapy to manage hematotoxicity caused by environmental arsenic exposure