Antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects of Viusid in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Abstract

AIM:

To investigate the efficacy of Viusid, a nutritional supplement, as an antioxidant and an immunomodulator in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

METHODS:

Sixty patients with chronic hepatitis C who were non-responders to standard antiviral treatment were randomly assigned to receive Viusid (3 sachets daily, n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 24 wk. The primary outcome was the change in serum malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxyalkenals (lipid peroxidation products). Secondary outcomes were changes in serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-10 (IL-10).

RESULTS:

Statistically significant reductions in serum 4-hydroxyalkenals and malondialdehyde levels were observed in both groups in comparison with pretreatment values, but the patients who received Viusid showed a more marked reduction as compared with the control group (P = 0.001). TNF-alpha levels significantly increased from 6.9 to 16.2 pg/mL (P < 0.01) in the patients who received placebo in comparison with almost unchanged levels, from 6.6 to 7.1 pg/mL (P = 0.26), in the patients treated with Viusid (P = 0.001). In addition, IL-10 levels were markedly increased in the patients treated with Viusid (from 2.6 to 8.3 pg/mL, P = 0.04) in contrast to the patients assigned to placebo (from 2.8 to 4.1 pg/mL, P = 0.09) (P = 0.01). Likewise, the administration of Viusid markedly increased mean IFN-gamma levels from 1.92 to 2.89 pg/mL (P < 0.001) in comparison with a reduction in mean levels from 1.80 to 1.68 pg/mL (P = 0.70) in the placebo group (P < 0.0001). Viusid administration was well tolerated.

CONCLUSION:

Our results indicate that treatment with Viusid leads to a notable improvement of oxidative stress and immunological parameters in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

• Authors: Eduardo Vilar Gomez, Yadina Martinez Perez, Hector Vega Sanchez, Gretel Riveron Forment, Enrique Arus Soler, Luis Calzadilla Bertot, Ali Yasells Garcia, Maria del Rosario Abreu Vazquez, Licet Gonzalez Fabian
• Journal: World journal of gastroenterology (World J Gastroenterol) Vol. 16 Issue 21 Pg. 2638-47 (Jun 07 2010) ISSN: 2219-2840 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20518086 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Cytokines
• Immunologic Factors
• Placebos
• Plant Extracts
• Viusid
• Pantothenic Acid
• Malondialdehyde
• Glycyrrhizic Acid
• Vitamin B 6
• Zinc
• Ascorbic Acid

Topics

• Antioxidants (therapeutic use)
• Ascorbic Acid (therapeutic use)
• Cytokines (blood)
• Dietary Supplements
• Female
• Glycyrrhizic Acid (therapeutic use)
• Hepatitis C, Chronic (drug therapy, immunology)
• Humans
• Immunologic Factors (therapeutic use)
• Lipid Peroxidation
• Male
• Malondialdehyde (blood)
• Middle Aged
• Oxidative Stress
• Pantothenic Acid
• Placebos (therapeutic use)
• Plant Extracts
• Treatment Outcome
• Vitamin B 12 Deficiency
• Vitamin B 6
• Zinc (therapeutic use)