Antioxidant liposoluble vitamins and carotenoids in chronic hepatitis.

Background: It is acknowledge that antioxidant liposoluble vitamins and carotenoids are reduced in liver cirrhosis, but little is known about chronic viral hepatitis, where oxidative damage has to be taken into account. Materials and methods: Fifty-five patients with chronic hepatitis, mainly C virus-related, were matched with 16 patients with biliary stones and 20 healthy controls. Plasma and liver analyses were carried out using a well-tried HPLC technique, which affords an accurate quantification of retinol, tocopherol, alpha- and betacarotene, cryptoxanthin and lycopene. Results: Plasma concentration of retinol, tocopherol, beta-carotene and lycopene was significantly decreased in both patient groups, particularly in those with chronic hepatitis. On the other hand, liver concentration of both esterified and free retinol, tocopherol and some carotenoid was better preserved in the hepatitis than in the cholelithiasis group. A strict correspondence between aminotransferases and the amount of liver-stored retinol was documented. Conclusions: Plasma vitamin and carotenoid depletion co-existing with preserved liver storage, may indicate a functional defect in liver pool mobilisation or even a real depletion of the antioxidant defences, which play a key role in averting cellular damage. The implications for nutrition and therapy need to be taken into account