Role of transition metals, Fe(II), Cr(II), Pb(II), and Cd(II) in lipid peroxidation

Cod liver oil was oxidized with Fenton-like systems containing transition metals Fe(II), Cr(II), Pb(II), and Cd(II). Malonaldehyde (MA) formed from 10 μl cod liver oil oxidized by a Fenton-like system containing each metal at levels of 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 4 μmol was analyzed by a gas chromatograph equipped with a nitrogen phosphorus detector. The MA production exhibited dose response and the greatest amount (837.0 ± 19.1 nmol) was obtained by the Fe(II) system at the level of l μmol. Generally, higher MA formation is observed in the lower the third ionization potential of the metal. The decreasing order of MA formed in the metal systems at the level of 1 μmol is Fe(II) > Cr(II)(274.1 ± 20.1 nmol) > Pb(II)(150.7 ± 13.0 nmol) > Cd(II)(95.4 ± 6.7 nmol). The amounts of MA formed in Cr(II), Pb(II), and Cd(II) systems were considerably lower than those in the Fe(II) system. The relative formations of MA in the Cr(II) and Pb(II) systems were similar to those in the Fe(II) system. The results suggest that trace amounts of metals contribute oxidative effects to lipid peroxidation followed by various diseases.