Comparative study of antioxidant vitamins and enzymes in patients with alcoholic liver disease

Consumption of excess amounts of ethanol causes liver damage by several mechanisms. The exact pro-oxidant and antioxidant status in alcoholic liver disease among the chronic alcoholics is still not clear. This study was done to assess various parameters in the erythrocytes and plasma to assess the oxidant-antioxidant status in chronic alcoholics with alcoholic liver disease. Erythrocyte ascorbic acid and plasma vitamin E levels were estimated along with the activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in erythrocytes as an index of antioxidant status. The activity of the enzyme catalase was also measured. These parameters were estimated in RBC stoassess the disturbances in oxidant-antioxidant status and their effect on erythrocytes.

Study was done on randomly selected sixty(60) subjects. Out of which thirty were patients with alcoholic liver disease (study subjects) and compared to thirty age and sex matched healthy subjects (controls). Statistical analysis between controls and patients was performed by the unpaired t-test using the Graph Pad software.

It was observed that there was a significant increase in the activities of SOD and GPx and a significant decrease in erythrocyte ascorbic acid, plasma vitamin E levels and catalase activity in patients with alcoholic liver disease, among chronic alcoholics when compared to controls.

The results of our study have shown higher oxygen free radical production, evidenced by the decreased levels of ascorbic acid, vitamin E and catalase activity, supporting the hypothesis that there is increased oxidative stress in patients with alcoholic liver disease. Findings suggested that use of antioxidant vitamin supplementation in the treatment of alcoholic liver disease along with conventional drugs in the initial stages of disease can prevent the oxidative damage and deterioration of the tissues.