DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sasjm.2026.v12i01.005

Pages: 28-41

An imbalance in redox environment can lead to oxidative stress, which has emerged as a growing health concern as it constitutes one of the significant risk factors of cardiovascular diseases. Vitamin D3, in addition to its classical role in calcium homeostasis, exerts various biological actions that are beneficial in the management of inflammatory disorders such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension. An animal study suggests that Sucrose, a non-reducing disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose subunits, can promote metabolic disturbances and contribute to oxidative stress when consumed in excess. This research aims to examine the effect of vitamin D3 on cardiac redox homeostasis in male Wistar rats fed a high-sucrose diet. Twenty-four (24) male Wistar Rats weighing 150-200g were divided into four (4) groups of six rats as: Control (Ctr: normal chow + vehicle: normal saline), Sucrose (40g dissolved in 100ml of distilled water), Vitamin D3 (1500IU/kg dissolved in 3ml of olive oil) orally, and 40% Sucrose solution + Vitamin D3 (1500IU/kg). After six weeks, animals were anesthetized with 50mg/kg Ketamine hydrochloride administered intramuscularly, and blood was collected via cardiac puncture. Plasma and cardiac homogenate were analyzed, and data were expressed as mean ± SEM; p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Sucrose significantly reduced plasma and cardiac NADPH, G6PDH, and GSH compared to control. Sucrose also reduced plasma GPX, but did not exhibit significant effect on cardiac GPX compared to control. Vitamin D3 on the other hand caused a substantial increase in plasma and cardiac NADPH, G6PDH, GSH, and GPX compared to control. This study conclusively shows that administration of vitamin D3 ameliorated oxidative stress induced by a high sucrose diet and, as such, has cardioprotective effects.