The Effects of Kefir on the Inflamatory Status and Thyroid Function (Experimental Study on Wistar Rats After Exposed to Chlorpyrifos)

Abstract

Objective: Goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland remained a health problem in the agricultural areas. Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is a pesticide widely used byfarmers. Previous studies proved that CPF exposure caused thyroid dysfunction. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of kefir on theinflammatory status and thyroid function in male Wistar rats after exposed to CPF using biochemical and histopathological assays.Methods: Male rats were divided into 4 groups, i.e., CPF 5+kefir (5 mg/kg+3.6 ml/200 g, respectively), CPF 5 (5 mg/kg), corn oil (CO 1 ml/200 g), andnegative control (NC: Without CPF, CO, and kefir).Results: Kefir supplementation dose 3.6 ml/200 g once a day for 28 days in the rats after exposed to CPF dose 5 mg/kg once a day for 14 days, inCPF 5+kefir as compared to CPF 5: Significantly (p<0.05) decreased serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) level; significantly (p<0.01) maintainedserum levels of tumor growth factor-β (TGF-β) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) not to decrease; not significant (p>0.05) decreased the level ofinterleukin-1β, cluster of differentiation-26 expression and level of T serum; not significant (p>0.05) maintained the level of anti-thyroid peroxidasenot to decrease; and not significant (p>0.05) increased the apoptosis index. This study suggests that CPF exposure causes the inflammatory processwhich leads to thyroid dysfunction.4Conclusion: Kefir supplementation significantly decreased the level of TNF-α and maintained the levels of TGF-β and TSH not to decrease, possible toreduce the inflammatory and thyroid dysfunction processes caused by exposure to CPF in experimental animals.Keywords: Kefir, Chlorpyrifos, Inflammation, Thyroid function.