Himoto T, Hosomi N, Nakai S, Deguchi A, Kinekawa F, Matsuki M, Yachida M, Masaki T, Kurokochi K, Watanabe S, Senda S, Kuriyama S. Efficacy of zinc administration in patients with hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease.
Scand J Gastroenterol 2007;
42:1078-87. [PMID:
17710674 DOI:
10.1080/00365520701272409]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Zinc supplementation has been shown to contribute to inhibition of liver fibrosis and improvement in hepatic encephalopathy. However, little is known about the anti-inflammatory effect of zinc on hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related chronic liver disease (CLD). We therefore examined the effects of zinc administration on inflammatory activity and fibrosis in the liver of patients with HCV-related CLD.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Polaprezinc, a complex of zinc and l-carnosine, was administrated at 225 mg/day for 6 months to 14 patients with HCV-related CLD, in addition to their ongoing prescriptions. Peripheral blood cell counts, liver-related biochemical parameters, serological markers for liver fibrosis, HCV-RNA loads, and serum levels of zinc and ferritin were evaluated before and after zinc administration.
RESULTS
Serum zinc concentrations were positively correlated with hepatic reserve before zinc supplementation. A significant increase in serum zinc level was observed after zinc supplementation (64+/-15 versus 78+/-26 mg/dl, p=0.0156). Treatment with polaprezinc significantly decreased serum aminotransferase levels (aspartate aminotransferase (AST): 92+/-33 versus 63+/-23 IU/l, p=0.0004; alanine aminotransferase (ALT): 106+/-43 versus 65+/-32 IU/l, p=0.0002), whereas alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly increased (305+/-117 versus 337+/-118 U/l, p=0.0020). Serum ferritin levels were significantly decreased by treatment with polaprezinc (158+/-141 versus 101+/-80 ng/ml, p=0.0117). The reduction rate of ALT levels by polaprezinc was positively correlated with that of ferritin (r(2)=0.536, p=0.0389). There was a tendency toward a decrease in serum type IV collagen 7S levels after treatment with polaprezinc. However, administration of polaprezinc did not affect peripheral blood cell counts, other liver function tests, or HCV-RNA loads.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that polaprezinc exerts an anti-inflammatory effect on the liver in patients with HCV-related CLD by reducing iron overload.
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