title: Vitamins B status and antioxidative defense in patients with chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The impact of hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection upon B vitamins status and antioxidative defense in infected patients was examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dietary record and blood levels of B vitamins and oxidative stress-associated biomarkers were determined for 195 healthy controls, 132 HBV, and 114 HCV patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HBV-infected patients had significantly higher levels of total cholesterol, free fatty acids (FFA), and lower ghrelin level (p < 0.05); and HCV-infected patients had significantly higher Ishak inflammation score and lactate dehydrogenase activity (p < 0.05). HBV patients had significantly lower red blood cell (RBC) vitamins B(2) and B(6) levels, and HCV infection significantly decreased vitamins B(2,) B(6) and folate levels in RBC and/or plasma (p < 0.05). Correlation coefficients of RBC vitamin B(2) versus serum FFA in HBV patients, RBC vitamins B(2) and B(6) versus HCV RNA and Ishak inflammation score, and plasma vitamin B(6) vs Ishak inflammation score in HCV patients were <-0.5. HBV-infected patients had significantly higher oxidized glutathione level and lower glutathione peroxidase activity (p < 0.05), but HCV patients had significantly lower superoxide dismutase and catalase activities (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HBV or HCV infection enhanced oxidative stress and lowered B vitamins in circulation. In order to avoid other healthy risk, nutrition status should be monitored and limitation or supplementation of certain nutrients might be helpful for HBV- or HCV-infected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Che
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Wen-Hu
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhi-Hong
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Mei-Chin
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D014803:Vitamin B Complex