EVALUATING OMEGA-3 AND SELENIUM IN MITIGATING HAART-INDUCED BLOOD TOXICITY IN WISTAR RATS

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) or combination antiretroviral therapy is a treatment regimen typically comprising of combination of three or more drugs from two or more classes of antiretroviral drugs. HAART-induced haemotoxicity is well reported with oxidative stress partly blamed for the insult on tissues. There is paucity of information on the possible ameliorating effects of common antioxidants (Omega 3 and Selenium) on HAART-induced haemotoxicity in wistar rats and hence this study. Sixteen male Wistar rats weighing 120 – 250g used for the study were divided into four groups of 4 rats each viz group 1 (control), group 2 (HAART-only), group 3 (HAART + Omega 3) and group 4 (HAART + Selenium). Duration of daily administration and treatment was six weeks. Results showed a significantly decreased (p<0.05) red blood cell count in the HAART-only group compared with control but which was significantly increased in the HAART + Omega 3 and HAART+ Selenium groups compared with HAART-only group (p<0.05 in each case). Hemoglobin concentration was significantly reduced (p<0.05) in the HAART-only group compared with control but significantly increased in HAART + Omega 3 and HAART + Selenium groups compared with HAART-only group (p<0.05). Packed cell volume was significantly reduced in the HAART-only group compared with control but which was significantly higher in HAART + Omega 3 and HAART + Selenium groups compared with HAART-only group (p<0.05). No significant difference was observed in mean corpuscular volume among the groups. The mean corpuscular hemoglobin was significantly reduced in the HAART-only group compared with the control (p<0.05). Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration was significantly decreased (P<0.05) in the HAART-only group compared with control but increased in the HAART + Omega 3 and HAART + Selenium compared with HAART only groups (p<0.05 in each case). We therefore conclude that co-administration of Omega 3 or Selenium ameliorates HAART-induced haemotoxicity in Wistar rats