Vitamins B status and antioxidative defense in patients with chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus infection

Background & Aims The impact of hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection upon B vitamins status and antioxidative defense in infected patients was examined. Methods Dietary record and blood levels of B vitamins and oxidative stress-associated biomarkers were determined for 195 healthy controls, 132 HBV, and 114 HCV patients. Results HBV-infected patients had significantly higher levels of total cholesterol, free fatty acids (FFA), and lower ghrelin level (p < 0.05); and HCV-infected patients had significantly higher Ishak inflammation score and lactate dehydrogenase activity (p < 0.05). HBV patients had significantly lower red blood cell (RBC) vitamins B-2 and B-6 levels, and HCV infection significantly decreased vitamins B-2,B- B-6 and folate levels in RBC and/or plasma (p < 0.05). Correlation coefficients of RBC vitamin B-2 versus serum FFA in HBV patients, RBC vitamins B-2 and B-6 versus HCV RNA and Ishak inflammation score, and plasma vitamin B-6 vs Ishak inflammation score in HCV patients were <-0.5. HBV-infected patients had significantly higher oxidized glutathione level and lower glutathione peroxidase activity (p < 0.05), but HCV patients had significantly lower superoxide dismutase and catalase activities (p < 0.05). Conclusion HBV or HCV infection enhanced oxidative stress and lowered B vitamins in circulation. In order to avoid other healthy risk, nutrition status should be monitored and limitation or supplementation of certain nutrients might be helpful for HBV- or HCV-infected patients.