The influence of vitamin E supplementation on the ability of alpha-mercapto-beta(2-furyl) acrylic acid (MFA) or calcium trisodium diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (DTPA) to reduce body burden of cadmium and reverse Cd-induced biochemical alterations was investigated in Cd-exposed rats. The treatment with MFA-vitamin E or CaNa3 DTPA-vitamin E was more effective than either vitamin E or chelating agent alone, in depleting blood and tissue Cd. However, the combined treatment showed only limited advantage over the individuals in restoring Cd-induced biochemical changes. Further, the treatment with chelator-vitamin E concomitantly with the exposure to Cd was more effective than post-Cd exposure treatment.