title: Beneficial effect of refined red palm oil on lipid peroxidation and monocyte tissue factor in HCV-related liver disease: a randomized controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A large amount of endotoxin can be detected in the peripheral venous blood of patients with liver cirrhosis, contributing to the pathogenesis of hepatotoxicity because of its role in oxidative stress. The present study aimed to test the effect of the supplementation with red palm oil (RPO), which is a natural oil obtained from oil palm fruit (Elaeis guineensis) rich in natural fat-soluble tocopherols, tocotrienols and carotenoids, on lipid peroxidation and endotoxemia with plasma endotoxin-inactivating capacity, proinflammatory cytokines profile, and monocyte tissue factor in patients with chronic liver disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of sixty patients (34 males and 26 females; mean age 62 years, range 54-75) with Child A/B, genotype 1 HCV-related cirrhosis without a history of ethanol consumption, randomly enrolled into an 8-week oral daily treatment with either vitamin E or RPO. All patients had undergone an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy 8 months before, and 13 out of them showed esophageal varices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both treatments significantly decreased erythrocyte malondialdehyde and urinary isoprostane output, only RPO significantly affected macrophage-colony stimulating factor and monocyte tissue factor. Liver ultrasound imaging did not show any change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RPO beneficially modulates oxidative stress and, not least, downregulates macrophage/monocyte inflammatory parameters. RPO can be safely advised as a valuable nutritional implementation tool in the management of chronic liver diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Gastroenterology Section, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. rcatanza@unict.it.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Catanzaro
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zerbinati
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Solimene
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marcellino
authors.forename: Dheeraj
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mohania
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Italia
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marotta
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D028421:Isoprostanes / Q000652:urine; D007558:Italy; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013925:Thromboplastin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D028421:Isoprostanes; D010938:Plant Oils; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D000073878:Palm Oil; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D013925:Thromboplastin