Homeostatic changes of some trace elements in geriatric rats in the condition of oxidative stress induced by aluminum and the beneficial role of resveratrol

Abstract Background Elderly individuals are exposed to trace element imbalances due to the reduced capacity of their organism to utilize minerals in a direct relationship with many circumstances. Objectives and methods The aim of this study was to assess the protective role of resveratrol upon the homeostatic changes of some trace elements in geriatric rats in the condition of oxidative stress induced by aluminum exposure. Forty Wistar rats, 18–20 months old, were divided randomly into four groups (n = 10): control (C) - receiving 1 ml of physiologically saline (P.S.) via intraperitoneal (i.p) administration, E1 - 1 ml of P.S. and 1000 ppb aluminum sulphate (AS) in drinking water ad libitum, E2 - 20 mg/kg −1 resveratrol, i.p. and 1000 ppb AS in drinking water, E3 - 20 mg/kg −1 resveratrol i.p. The groups C and E3 received distilled water as drinking water ad libitum. The i.p administrations were once a week for four weeks period. The levels of oxidative stress marker's were analyzed (glutathione, glutathione' peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase) of the proteins' (total protein, albumin, and hemoglobin) in serum and also the levels of the main trace elements (copper, zinc, iron, selenium, manganese and magnesium) in blood, liver, kidney and spleen. Results Significant decrease (p   0.05) increase of Se and Mn in blood, significant (p   0.05) were recorded in groups which received resveratrol (E2 and E3) compared to the control group, but significant differences (p  Conclusions The results suggest that resveratrol can prevent the homeostatic imbalance of trace elements in geriatric rats in the condition of oxidative stress induced by aluminum exposure.