Efficacy of zinc administration in patients with hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease.
OBJECTIVE
Zinc supplementation has been shown to contribute to inhibition of liver fibrosis and improvement in hepatic encephalopathy. However, little is known about the anti-inflammatory effect of zinc on hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related chronic liver disease (CLD). We therefore examined the effects of zinc administration on inflammatory activity and fibrosis in the liver of patients with HCV-related CLD.


METHODS
Polaprezinc, a complex of zinc and l-carnosine, was administrated at 225 mg/day for 6 months to 14 patients with HCV-related CLD, in addition to their ongoing prescriptions. Peripheral blood cell counts, liver-related biochemical parameters, serological markers for liver fibrosis, HCV-RNA loads, and serum levels of zinc and ferritin were evaluated before and after zinc administration.


RESULTS
Serum zinc concentrations were positively correlated with hepatic reserve before zinc supplementation. A significant increase in serum zinc level was observed after zinc supplementation (64+/-15 versus 78+/-26 mg/dl, p=0.0156). Treatment with polaprezinc significantly decreased serum aminotransferase levels (aspartate aminotransferase (AST): 92+/-33 versus 63+/-23 IU/l, p=0.0004; alanine aminotransferase (ALT): 106+/-43 versus 65+/-32 IU/l, p=0.0002), whereas alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly increased (305+/-117 versus 337+/-118 U/l, p=0.0020). Serum ferritin levels were significantly decreased by treatment with polaprezinc (158+/-141 versus 101+/-80 ng/ml, p=0.0117). The reduction rate of ALT levels by polaprezinc was positively correlated with that of ferritin (r(2)=0.536, p=0.0389). There was a tendency toward a decrease in serum type IV collagen 7S levels after treatment with polaprezinc. However, administration of polaprezinc did not affect peripheral blood cell counts, other liver function tests, or HCV-RNA loads.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that polaprezinc exerts an anti-inflammatory effect on the liver in patients with HCV-related CLD by reducing iron overload.
Himoto
Takashi
T
Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University School of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan.
Hosomi
Naoki
N
Nakai
Seiji
S
Deguchi
Akihiro
A
Kinekawa
Fumihiko
F
Matsuki
Michiko
M
Yachida
Mikage
M
Masaki
Tsutomu
T
Kurokochi
Kazutaka
K
Watanabe
Seishiro
S
Senda
Shoichi
S
Kuriyama
Shigeki
S
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002336:Carnosine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000097:blood; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010976:Platelet Count; D012709:Serum Albumin; D013997:Time Factors; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D024141:Collagen Type IV; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D012709:Serum Albumin; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C061957:polaprezinc; D003300:Copper; D002336:Carnosine; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc