Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: The impact of hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection upon B vitamins status and antioxidative defense in infected patients was examined.
METHODS: Dietary record and blood levels of B vitamins and oxidative stress-associated biomarkers were determined for 195 healthy controls, 132 HBV, and 114 HCV patients.
RESULTS: HBV-infected patients had significantly higher levels of total cholesterol, free fatty acids (FFA), and lower ghrelin level (p < 0.05); and HCV-infected patients had significantly higher Ishak inflammation score and lactate dehydrogenase activity (p < 0.05). HBV patients had significantly lower red blood cell (RBC) vitamins B(2) and B(6) levels, and HCV infection significantly decreased vitamins B(2,) B(6) and folate levels in RBC and/or plasma (p < 0.05). Correlation coefficients of RBC vitamin B(2) versus serum FFA in HBV patients, RBC vitamins B(2) and B(6) versus HCV RNA and Ishak inflammation score, and plasma vitamin B(6) vs Ishak inflammation score in HCV patients were <-0.5. HBV-infected patients had significantly higher oxidized glutathione level and lower glutathione peroxidase activity (p < 0.05), but HCV patients had significantly lower superoxide dismutase and catalase activities (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: HBV or HCV infection enhanced oxidative stress and lowered B vitamins in circulation. In order to avoid other healthy risk, nutrition status should be monitored and limitation or supplementation of certain nutrients might be helpful for HBV- or HCV-infected patients.
PMID: 21184088 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Lin CC, Liu WH, Wang ZH, Yin MC.
Department of Internal Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung City, Taiwan.
Eur J Nutr. 2010 Dec 24. [Epub ahead of print]