Bioavailability of Li-enriched mushrooms and protection against oxidative stress in pigs: First study in vivo

Abstract

Mycelia and mushrooms are able to bioaccumulate minerals. Lithium is the active principle of drugs used in the treatment of psychiatric diseases. However, a dietary source of Li can reduce the side effects of these drugs. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the bioavailability of Li-enriched mushroom of Pleurotus djamor in pigs and the effects of this element on oxidative stress in the animal tissues. Pigs 28-30 days-old were fed with diets containing or not Li for five days. Levels of serum cortisol were related to the Li dosage from diet. Li-enriched mushrooms were more bioavailable source of Li to the body than Li₂CO₃. These mushrooms also improved the effects of oxidative enzymes and showed less oxidative damage than Li₂CO₃. These results demonstrate the potential to use Li-enriched P. djamor as a source of Li that is more bioavailable and present protective effects against oxidative stress.

Keywords: Blood; Brain; Functional food; Liver; Oxidative stress.

Fig. 1

Serum lithium concentration (A) and lithium kinetics absorption (B) in the blood for 6 days in pigs treated with different doses of Li₂CO₃ and Li-enriched mushroom flour during five days (Table 1). In figure B, animals with diet of (▼) 300 mg Li₂CO₃, (●) 122 g of Li-enriched mushroom (M + LiT), and (■) 600 mg of Li₂CO₃ per day

Fig. 2

Quantification of Li in the brain (a), liver (b), erythrocytes (c), kidney (d) and urine (e) of animals treated with diets without (control and M) or with lithium (LiT, M + LiT, LiR, M + LiR, and LiS, Table 1). Means that do not share the same letter are statistically different by Fisher’s test (p < 0.05)

Fig. 3

The serum cortisol level (figure A) and activities (figure B) of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and malondialdehyde antioxidants (MDA) in the brain of pigs administered with different diets of Li (Table 1). Means that do not share the same letter are statistically different by Fisher’s test (p < 0.05)

Fig. 4

Activities of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and malondialdehyde antioxidants (MDA) in the liver (figure A) and kidney (figure B) of pigs administered with different diets of Li (Table 1). Means that do not share the same letter are statistically different by Fisher’s test (p < 0.05)

Fig. 5

Activities of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and malondialdehyde antioxidants (MDA) in the blood serum of pigs administered with different sources of Li (Table 1). a Superoxide dismutase activity; b Catalase activity; c Glutathione S-transferase activity and d levels of malondialdehyde. Means that do not share the same letter are statistically different by Fisher’s test (p < 0.05)