Diminished plasma levels of vitamin E in patients with severe viral hepatitis.
RRR-alpha-Tocopherol (Vitamin E) was assayed in plasma of 48 patients with viral hepatitis and of 32 healthy controls. In patients with highly elevated serum transaminases (ALT > 100 U/L) vitamin E plasma levels were significantly lower (17.5 +/- 4.8 mumol/L) than in controls (22.7 +/- 4.2 mumol/L, p < 0.01). The vitamin E/lipid ratios (3.12 +/- 0.63 mumol/g) in these patients were 33% lower than those of the controls (4.68 +/- 0.54 mumol/g). The lowered vitamin E levels in patients with acute or chronic viral hepatitis with high activity of disease may be due to free radical-mediated liver injury.
von Herbay
A
A
Department of Medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Stahl
W
W
Niederau
C
C
von Laar
J
J
Strohmeyer
G
G
Sies
H
H
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000097:blood*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*
D008055:Lipids; D014810:Vitamin E