title: EFFECT OF ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL ON SEVERITY OF CIRRHOSIS IN HUMANS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to examine the relationship between the antioxidant potential and severity parameters of cirrhosis in humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  fifteen patients with hepatic cirrhosis (nine subjects - Child group B, and six subjects - Child group C) and nine control subjects were enrolled in the study. The main criteria taken into account to characterize the diagnosis of cirrhosis and its complications were the AST: ALT ratio, AST to platelet ratio index, Bonacini score, Meld score and Child classification. Those parameters were determined based on laboratory results and patient's clinical records. Se, Zn, ascorbic acid (AA) levels and oxidative stress parameters were measured in blood samples of cirrhotic patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the analysis of plasma levels of Se and AA showed low concentrations in cirrhotic patients compared with control subjects (P < 0.05). Though, there was a positive correlation between plasma of Se and severity parameters of cirrhosis in patients of Child group B and C. In the activity of the antioxidant enzymes only catalase was lower in patients of Child group C compared with control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  we found low plasma levels of Se and AA among cirrhotic patients. However, is not clear why selenium levels tend to increase with the severity of liver cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas - Universidade Federal de Santa Maria - UFSM, Santa Maria, RS. Departamento de Nutrição, Centro Universitário Franciscano, Santa Maria, RS.. elicolpo@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Elisangela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Colpo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria - UFSM, Santa Maria, RS.. fariasjuliag@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gomes Farias
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Análises Clínicas, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria - UFSM, Santa Maria, RS.. irialuiza@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Iria Luiza
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Gomes Farias
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Análises Clínicas, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria - UFSM, Santa Maria, RS.. lg_reetz@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Luiz Gustavo
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Brenner Reetz
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Análises Clínicas, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria - UFSM, Santa Maria, RS.. lilianeoliv@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Liliane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Ambulatório de Gastroenterologia, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria - UFSM (Santa Maria, RS), Brazil.. de.carli@terra.com.br.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Michelon de Carli
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas - Universidade Federal de Santa Maria - UFSM, Santa Maria, RS.. edson_muller@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Edson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Irineu Müller
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas - Universidade Federal de Santa Maria - UFSM, Santa Maria, RS.. ericommf@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Érico
authors.initials: É
authors.lastname: Marlon de Moraes Flores
authors.affiliation: Ambulatório de Gastroenterologia, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria - UFSM (Santa Maria, RS), Brazil.. saulord@terra.com.br.
authors.forename: Saulo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roth Dalcin
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas - Universidade Federal de Santa Maria - UFSM, Santa Maria, RS.. jbtrocha@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: João Batista
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Teixeira da Rocha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D012643:Selenium; D001205:Ascorbic Acid