Publication

Abstract : Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) develops as a consequence of priming and sensitizing mechanisms rendered by cross-interactions of primary mechanistic factors and secondary risk factors. Chronic alcohol abuse and its progression to ALD are associated with abnormal metabolism and low tissue or plasma levels, or both, of many micronutrients. Glutathione depletion is considered the most important sensitizing mechanism. In the present study efficacy of lecithin with vitamin-B complex to treat ethanol induced oxidative stress was compared with the effect of lecithin alone, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), as well as capacity of hepatic regeneration during abstention. Ethanol (1.6g / kg body weight/ day for 4 weeks) affects body weight in 16-18 week old male albino rats of Wistar strain weighing 200-220 g. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance level, nitrite content, protein carbonyl group level, redox ratio (oxidized to reduced glutathione ratio), superoxide dismutase activity, and glutathione s-transferase activity significantly increased on ethanol exposure. Whereas reduced glutathione content, and activities of catalase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase significantly reduced due to ethanol exposure. These changes were reversed by different treatment. The results suggest that tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) could partially reverse these changes and act as a potential therapeutic agent. However, lecithin with vitamin-B complex treatment is a promising therapeutic approach. Furthermore, preventive measures were more effective than curative treatment. Prevention of oxidative and nitrosative stress along with correction of nutritional deficiency is one of the proposed mechanisms for the therapeutic approach.