Effect of vitamin D3 on cadmium retention by laying hens

The effect of cadmium (Cd) and vitamin D-3 on Cd retention in the organism of laying hens was observed. Hens (n = 48) were divided into eight groups with six animals per group as follows: experimental groups 1, 3 and 5 were administered Cd (0.3, 0. 6 and 6.0 mg CdCl2 kg(-1) body weight, respectively) daily in water and groups 2, 4 and 6 were administered the same CdCl2 concentrations supplemented with vitamin D-3 (100 IU hen(-1)). C1 was a control group without any supplements and C2 a control group supplemented only with vitamin D-3. Samples of inner organs were analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry after 6 months of Cd exposure. A significant elevation in Cd levels, mainly in the liver and kidneys, was found. A significant decrease (Pless than or equal to0.01) in Cd levels in the liver was recorded after the addition of 6.0 mg CdCl2 kg(-1) body weight and vitamin D-3, in comparison with the group without vitamin D-3 (18.76 vs. 10.33 mg kg(-1)). A similar decrease in Cd levels in the kidney (Pless than or equal to0.001) at the same supplementation dose of Cd was obtained in comparison with the group without vitamin D-3 (145. 32 vs. 60. 37 mg kg(-1)). The results confirmed that vitamin D-3 is able to reduce the Cd content in the organism of laying hens. The main effect of vitamin D-3 was demonstrated by decreasing Cd retention in the liver and especially in the kidneys.