The effect of dietary supplementation with garlic, ginger and cabbage at the rate of 10% of the feed on cadmium induced toxicity was investigated in male Wistar rats. Cadmium chloride in a single acute dose of 3 mg Cd/kg body weight was administered subcutaneously to six study groups (n = 10 per group), which were thereafter placed on test diets as follows: rat chow and water (group 1) which served as normal control and was neither exposed to cadmium nor antioxidants, group 2 was administered Cd and served as Cd treated control, group 3 received rat chow supplemented with vitamin E, group 4 received rat chow supplemented with garlic, group 5 was given rat chow supplemented with cabbage whereas group 6 had rat chow supplemented with ginger. At the end of 28 days feeding period, the animals were sacrificed and blood obtained for hormonal, biochemical and haematological analyses. It was observed that Cd administration induced 75-78% increase in total acid phosphatase (TAP) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) activities respectively and 22% increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity relative to control. Serum TAP, PAP and ALP activities in all the supplemented groups were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) relative to the Cd treated, non-supplemented animals. Tendency towards anemia (decreased % PCV, [Hb] and RBC counts) in Cd treated group 2 was reversed as evidenced by significant increase (p < 0.05) in PCV, [Hb] and RBC counts in supplemented groups. Serum testosterone which was reduced as a result of Cd treatment was restored to normal levels as a consequence of supplementation.
