title: The role of antioxidants and zinc in minimal hepatic encephalopathy: a randomized trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) has a far-reaching impact on quality and function ability in daily life and may progress to overt hepatic encephalopathy. There is a synergistic effect between systemic oxidative stress and ammonia that is implicated in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of oral supplementation of antioxidants and zinc gluconate on MHE versus lactulose.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our study included 58 patients with cirrhosis diagnosed as having MHE by neuropsychometric tests, including number connection test part A (NCT-A), digit symbol test (DST) and block design tests (BDTs). Patients were randomized to receive 175 mg zinc gluconate, 50,000 IU vitamin A, 500 mg vitamin C and 100 mg vitamin E once daily plus lactulose, dose 30-60 ml/day for 3 months [group A (n = 31)] or initiated and maintained on lactulose dose 30-60 ml/day for 3 months [group B (n = 27)]. Neuropsychometric tests and laboratory investigations were repeated after 3 months of therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the baseline neuropsychometric tests, a significant improvement was reported in patients with MHE after 3 months of antioxidant and zinc therapy (group A) versus patients with lactulose therapy (group B) (NCT-A, p <0.001; DST, p = 0.006; BDT, p < 0.001). Antioxidant and zinc supplementation significantly decreased arterial ammonia level, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (p < 0.001) and improved Child-Pugh score in MHE after 3 months of therapy (p= 0.024).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antioxidant and zinc supplementation can improve MHE in patients with liver cirrhosis.
authors: Tropical Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, 35516 Mansoura, Egypt.
authors: Nasser
authors: N
authors: Mousa
authors: Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura City, Egypt.
authors: Ahmed
authors: A
authors: Abdel-Razik
authors: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura City, Egypt.
authors: Ashraf
authors: A
authors: Zaher
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura City, Egypt.
authors: Magdy
authors: M
authors: Hamed
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura City, Egypt.
authors: Gamal
authors: G
authors: Shiha
authors: Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura City, Egypt.
authors: Narmin
authors: N
authors: Effat
authors: Endemic Diseases and Gastroenterology Department, Aswan University, Aswan, Egypt.
authors: Sherif
authors: S
authors: Elbaz
authors: Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura City, Egypt.
authors: Rania
authors: R
authors: Elhelaly
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Aswan University, Aswan, Egypt.
authors: Mohamed
authors: M
authors: Hafez
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura City, Egypt.
authors: Niveen
authors: N
authors: El-Wakeel
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura City, Egypt.
authors: Waleed
authors: W
authors: Eldars
keywords: antioxidants; minimal hepatic encephalopathy; zinc