title: Serum fatty acids, antioxidants, and treatment response in hepatitis C infection: greater polyunsaturated fatty acid and antioxidant levels in hepatitis C responders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C (CHC) may exhibit impaired liver functions such as disturbances of fatty acid storage, synthesis and degradation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Possible associations between serum fatty acid (SFA) profiles, antioxidant status and treatment response were investigated in a trans-sectional study of untreated and treated CHC patients in comparison to a healthy control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  SFA composition and antioxidant status were examined in female patients with CHC: 9 were naïve to Interferon-α and ribavirin treatment (IFR), 21 sustained treatment responders, 21 were nonresponders, and 21 were healthy control group members. Additionally, in all CHC patients gammaglutamyl transferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Responders and healthy control group members had significantly higher antioxidant (P < .001), eicosapentaenoic (P < .001) and arachidonic acid (P < .004) levels, but lower stearic acid (P < .001) concentrations than non-responders and untreated patients. ALT was higher in untreated CHC patients than in treated ones (P < .028). GGT and AST did not differ significantly between patient groups, however GGT levels were associated with serum Gamma-Linolenic-Acid concentration (P = .009).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SFA profiles and antioxidant status in female CHC patients differ markedly from those of healthy controls, a phenomenon which is possibly related with their effect of HCV replication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Rostock, Gehlsheimer Str. 20, D-18147 Rostock, Germany. gisela.irmisch@med.uni-rostock.de
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Irmisch
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hoeppner
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thome
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernow
authors.forename: Emil C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Reisinger
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lafrenz
authors.forename: Micha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loebermann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013229:Stearic Acids / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D013229:Stearic Acids; D012254:Ribavirin; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase