Vitamins B depletion, lower iron status and decreased antioxidative defense in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated by pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin

Background 6, aims: The impact of pegylated interferon combined with ribavirin upon the status of B vitamins, iron and oxidative stress in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was examined. Methods: Blood levels of B vitamins, iron status, and oxidative stress associated biomarkers were determined for 152 healthy controls and 109 HCV patients treated by pegylated interferon and ribavirin at three stages: before therapy, week 24 of treatment, and 48 weeks after therapy. Results: HCV infection significantly lowered vitamin B-6 and folate (p < 0.05). Therapy caused further decrease in vitamin B-6 (p < 0.05), and also significantly decreased vitamins B-1 and B-2 (p < 0.05). This anti-HCV therapy caused More patients to exhibit insufficient iron status. HCV infection elevated plasma level of malondialdehyde and 8-isoprostane, and therapy further exacerbated lipid oxidation (p < 0.05). HCV infection significantly lowered vitamin C and glutathione levels (p < 0.05); therapy significantly reducedg, alpha-tocopherol and activity of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This anti-HCV therapy elevated oxidative stress and depleted B vitamins and iron. Thus, the Supplement of antioxidant agents, B vitamins and/or iron should be considered for patients with this therapy in Order to avoid other healthy risk. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.