Serum fatty acids, antioxidants, and treatment response in hepatitis C infection: Greater polyunsaturated fatty acid and antioxidant levels in hepatitis C responders

• Published in: Journal of clinical lipidology 2011-07, Vol.5 (4), p.288-293
• Main Authors: Irmisch, Gisela, PhD, Hoeppner, Jacqueline, MD, PhD, Thome, Johannes, MD, PhD, Richter, Joerg, PhD, Fernow, Anja, MD, Reisinger, Emil C., MD, PhD, Lafrenz, Michael, MD, Loebermann, Micha, MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Alanine Transaminase - blood; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - metabolism; Aspartate Aminotransferases - blood; Cardiovascular; Case-Control Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Therapy, Combination; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - blood; Female; gamma-Glutamyltransferase - blood; Hepacivirus - pathogenicity; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis C, Chronic - blood; Hepatitis C, Chronic - drug therapy; Humans; Interferon-alpha - administration & dosage; Interferon-alpha - therapeutic use; Middle Aged; Ribavirin - administration & dosage; Ribavirin - therapeutic use; Saturation; Stearic Acids - blood; Treatment Outcome; Treatment response
• ISSN: 1933-2874; 1876-4789
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jacl.2011.04.005

Background Patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C (CHC) may exhibit impaired liver functions such as disturbances of fatty acid storage, synthesis and degradation. Objective Possible associations between serum fatty acid (SFA) profiles, antioxidant status and treatment response were investigated in a trans-sectional study of untreated and treated CHC patients in comparison to a healthy control group. Methods SFA composition and antioxidant status were examined in female patients with CHC: 9 were naïve to Interferon-α and ribavirin treatment (IFR), 21 sustained treatment responders, 21 were nonresponders, and 21 were healthy control group members. Additionally, in all CHC patients gammaglutamyl transferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured. Results Responders and healthy control group members had significantly higher antioxidant ( P  < .001), eicosapentaenoic ( P < .001) and arachidonic acid ( P < .004) levels, but lower stearic acid ( P < .001) concentrations than non-responders and untreated patients. ALT was higher in untreated CHC patients than in treated ones ( P < .028). GGT and AST did not differ significantly between patient groups, however GGT levels were associated with serum Gamma-Linolenic-Acid concentration ( P = .009). Conclusion SFA profiles and antioxidant status in female CHC patients differ markedly from those of healthy controls, a phenomenon which is possibly related with their effect of HCV replication.