Combined effect of vanadium and beta-carotene on rat liver DNA-chain break and 
Proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis was studied during a necrogenic 
dose (200 mg/kg of body weight) of Diethyl Nitrosamine (DENA) induced rat liver 
carcinogenesis. Morphological and histopathological changes were observed as an 
end point biomarker. Supplementation of vanadium (0.5 ppm ad libitum) in 
drinking water and beta-carotene in the basal diet (120 mg/Kg of body weight) 
were performed four weeks before DENA treatment and continued till the end of 
the experiment (16 weeks). PIXE analysis revealed the restoration of near normal 
value of zinc, copper, and iron, which were substantially altered when compared 
to carcinogen treated groups. Supplementation of both vanadium and beta-carotene 
four weeks before DENA injection was found to offer significant (64.73%, P < 
0.001) protection against generation of single-strand breaks when compared with 
the carcinogen control counter parts. A significant stabilization of hepatic 
architecture of the cells was observed as compared to carcinogen control in 
vanadium plus beta-carotene treated group. This study thus suggests that 
vanadium, a prooxidant but potential therapeutic agent yield safe and effective 
pharmacological formulation with beta-carotene, an antioxidant, in the 
inhibition of experimental rat hepatocarcinogenesis.