title: Alpha-tocopherol [corrected] and ascorbic acid attenuates the ribavirin [corrected] induced decrease of eicosapentaenoic acid in erythrocyte membrane in chronic hepatitis C patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oxidative damage of the erythrocyte membrane plays an important role in ribavirin-induced anemia. The purpose of the present paper was to assess whether supplementation of alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid (vitamins) causes changes in the erythrocyte membrane fatty acid composition during interferon and ribavirin combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fatty acid compositions in erythrocyte membrane phospholipids were determined by gas chromatography at 0, 2, 4, 8 weeks, and at the end of combination therapy (26 weeks) for interferon with ribavirin in 32 patients with chronic hepatitis C who were randomized to receive vitamins or not (controls).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Good compliance with orally administered vitamins and ribavirin were confirmed by their concentrations in erythrocytes or plasma. The hemoglobin level was negatively correlated with the ribavirin concentration at 8 weeks (r = 0.59, P = 0.01) after initiation of therapy in controls, but not in the vitamin group. Among the 26 kinds of fatty acids analyzed, only eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) significantly decreased at 8 weeks after initiation of therapy (P = 0.03) and at the end of therapy (P = 0.004) in controls. Vitamins did not inhibit ribavirin-induced anemia, but attenuated the decrease of EPA in erythrocytes. The EPA level was negatively correlated with the drop in hemoglobin levels at 8 weeks after initiation of therapy in controls (r = 0.58, P = 0.015), but not in the vitamin group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplementation of alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid attenuates the ribavirin-induced decrease of EPA in erythrocyte membrane phospholipids in chronic hepatitis C patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Sciences, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan. k.hino@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hino
authors.forename: Yasuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kitase
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Takakazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Furutani
authors.forename: Fenyu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Yuhki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Kohki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yutoku
authors.forename: Satoyoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Michiari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okuda
authors.forename: Misako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okita
authors.forename: Kiwamu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okita
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012254:Ribavirin; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D001205:Ascorbic Acid