The effect of a silybin-vitamin e-phospholipid complex on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a pilot study.
Oxidative stress leads to chronic liver damage. Silybin has been conjugated with vitamin E and phospholipids to improve its antioxidant activity. Eighty-five patients were divided into 2 groups: those affected by nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (group A) and those with HCV-related chronic hepatitis associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (group B), nonresponders to treatment. The treatment consisted of silybin/vitamin E/phospholipids. After treatment, group A showed a significant reduction in ultrasonographic scores for liver steatosis. Liver enzyme levels, hyperinsulinemia, and indexes of liver fibrosis showed an improvement in treated individuals. A significant correlation among indexes of fibrosis, body mass index, insulinemia, plasma levels of transforming growth factor-beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, degree of steatosis, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase was observed. Our data suggest that silybin conjugated with vitamin E and phospholipids could be used as a complementary approach to the treatment of patients with chronic liver damage.
Loguercio
Carmela
C
Interuniversity Research Center on Foods, Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Tract (CIRANAD), Unit of Gastroenterology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Federico
Alessandro
A
Trappoliere
Marco
M
Tuccillo
Concetta
C
de Sio
Ilario
I
Di Leva
Agnese
A
Niosi
Marco
M
D'Auria
Mauro Valeriano
MV
Capasso
Rita
R
Del Vecchio Blanco
Camillo
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D018450:Disease Progression; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020944:Silybum marianum; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D000077385:Silybin; D012838:Silymarin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000975:Antioxidants; D016207:Cytokines; D010743:Phospholipids; D012838:Silymarin; D014810:Vitamin E; D000077385:Silybin; D000637:Transaminases