Research Article

Effect of ZNO and Vitamin C Supplementation on IFN-a Serum Levels in X-ray-Irradiated Female Rats: A Dose-Response Study

Abstract

Ionizing radiation, consisting of X-rays, interacts with the immune system in complicated ways, impacting numerous cells through a mechanism related to oxidative stress. The purpose of the current study was to examine the potential therapeutic impact of ZnOnano and vitamin C supplementation on immunity-toxicity caused by X-ray irradiation in female rats. The experiment was conducted using five groups, each consisting of 6 female rats. Group 1: X-ray non-irradiated control female rats (G1), while groups 2 and 3 received a single dose of 4 Gy (G2, G4) and 6 Gy (G3, G5) X-ray radiation using a linear accelerator. The animals in groups 4 and 5 (G4, G5) were treated with ZnO-nano and vitamin C supplementation at 0.01 mg/kg/day (5 mg) of ZnO-nano and 0.4 mg/kg/day (180 mg) of vitamin C for 14 consecutive days, starting the day after irradiation. The results revealed that exposing rats to X-ray irradiation caused a decrease in interferon-alpha (IFN-a) levels in rats exposed to 4 Gy (G2) and 6 Gy (G3) of radiation. It also shows that both zinc oxide nanomaterials (ZnO-nano) and Vitamin C supplementation can provide radioprotective effects, and they work synergistically. Vitamin c Supplementation has been proven to protect against radiation-induced harm, while ZnO-nano can reduce oxidative stress and inflammation related to radiation. Combining dietary ZnO-nano with Vitamin C supplementation should undoubtedly enhance these protective effects, such as regulating IFN-a, which is involved in the immune response radiation. It can be concluded that ZnOnano and Vitamin C supplementation should undoubtedly enhance protective effects, such as regulating IFN-a, which is involved in the immune response to radiation by combating free radical generation and boosting antioxidant defenses mechanisms.

Authors affiliation:

Doaa Falah Razzaq (ORCID): Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Kufa, Najaf, Iraq.

How To Cite: D.F. Razzaq. Effect of ZNO and Vitamin C Supplementation on IFN-a Serum Levels in X-ray-Irradiated Female Rats: A Dose-Response Study. Journal of Applied Health Sciences and Medicine, 6(9):26–30, 2026. https://doi.org/10.58614/jahsm696