Oxidative stress in chronic hepatitis C: a preliminary study on the protective effects of antioxidant flavonoids.
OBJECTIVE
Oxidative stress is involved in chronic hepatitis C, and efforts have been made to influence the disease process with antioxidants. The present study evaluates the protective effects of a phenol-rich processed grain food with superoxide-scavenging properties (trade name antioxidant biofactor AOB).


METHODS
Thirty patients participated in this placebo-controlled double-blind pilot study. AOB was taken orally by fifteen patients for 3 mo at the recommended daily dose of 3x2 sachets, containing 3 g of powder each. Another fifteen patients received a herbal extract with practically no superoxide scavenging properties as a placebo. Oxidative stress biomarkers, aminotransferase levels and viral load were evaluated immediately before and after treatment.


RESULTS
AOB treatment considerably improved the antioxidant defenses. Also ALT and AST decreased in 11 of the 15 patients (-11% to -65%, mean -22%, p<0.05). The effects of placebo were not significant. Viral load remained unchanged. Control biopsies were not done after the short interval of 3 mo. There were no adverse effects. After the 3-mo treatment with AOB or placebo, 16 of the 30 patients received conventional antiviral treatment (pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin). A sustained response was observed in 5 of 9 AOB pretreated patients six mo after discontinuation of the 12-mo antiviral therapy. The 7 patients pretreated with placebo were all non-responders.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary results are encouraging to conduct more extensive clinical studies combining antioxidant with antiviral treatment in hepatitis C.
Emerit
Ingrid
I
Institut Biomedical des Cordeliers, Université de Paris VI, Paris, France. ingrid.emerit@wanadoo.fr
Huang
Chung Yang
CY
Serejo
Fatima
F
Filipe
Paulo
P
Fernandes
Afonso
A
Costa
Adilia
A
Freitas
Joao
J
Baptista
Amelia
A
Carneiro de Moura
Miguel
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010636:Phenols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000975:Antioxidants; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D005419:Flavonoids; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C501911:antioxidant biofactor AOB; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; D000637:Transaminases; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a