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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 14, 2008; 14(6): 899-907
Published online Feb 14, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.899
Protective effect of some vitamins against the toxic action of ethanol on liver regeneration induced by partial hepatectomy in rats
Carlett Ramírez-Farías, Eduardo Madrigal-Santillán, José Gutiérrez-Salinas, Nidia Rodríguez-Sánchez, Maricela Martínez-Cruz, Ilse Valle-Jones, Ingrid Gramlich-Martínez, Alejandra Hernández-Ceruelos, José A Morales-González
Carlett Ramírez-Farías, Unidad de Genética de la Nutrición, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, México
Eduardo Madrigal-Santillán, Alejandra Hernández-Ceruelos, José A Morales-González, Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, México
José Gutiérrez-Salinas, Laboratorio de Bioquímica y Medicina Experimental, Unidad de Investigación Biomédica, División de Investigación, Centro Médico Nacional “20 de Noviembre” ISSSTE, México
Nidia Rodríguez-Sánchez, Gatorade Sports Science Institute, Mexico City, México
Maricela Martínez-Cruz, Ilse Valle-Jones, Escuela de Dietética y Nutrición ISSSTE, México
Ingrid Gramlich-Martínez, University of Ryerson, Toronto
Correspondence to: José A Morales-González, MD, PhD, Carrera de Farmacia, Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Abasolo # 600, C.P. 42000, Pachuca, Hidalgo, México. jmorales101@yahoo.com.mx
Telephone: +7-71-7172000-5113
Fax: +7-71-7172000-5111
Received: September 13, 2007
Revised: December 6, 2007
Published online: February 14, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effects of vitamins (A, C and E) on liver injury induced by ethanol administration during liver regeneration in rats.

METHODS: Male Wistar rats subjected to 70% partial hepatectomy were divided into five groups (groups 1-5). During the experiment, animals of Group 1 drank only water. The other four groups (2-5) drank 30 mL of ethanol/L of water. Group 3 additionally received vitamin A, those of group 4 vitamin C and those of group 5 received vitamin E. Subsequently serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin and bilirubin were measured colorimetrically. Lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric-acid reactive substances, TBARS) both in plasma and liver was measured, as well as liver mass gain assessment and total DNA.

RESULTS: Compared with sham group, serum AST and ALT increased significantly under ethanol treatment (43% and 93%, respectively, with P < 0.05). Vitamin C and vitamin E treatment attenuated the ethanol-induced increases in ALT and AST activity. Ethanol treatment also decreased serum albumin concentration compared to sham group (3.1 ± 0.4 g/dL vs 4.5 ± 0.2 g/dL; P < 0.05). During liver regeneration vitamins C and E significantly ameliorated liver injury for ethanol administration in hepatic lipid peroxidation (4.92 nmol/mg and 4.25 nmol/mg vs 14.78 nmol/mg, respectively, with P < 0.05). In association with hepatic injury, ethanol administration caused a significant increase in both hepatic and plasma lipid peroxidation. Vitamins (C and E) treatment attenuated hepatic and plasma lipid peroxidation.

CONCLUSION: Vitamins C and E protect against liver injury and dysfunction, attenuate lipid peroxidation, and thus appear to be significantly more effective than vitamin A against ethanol-mediated toxic effects during liver regeneration.

Keywords: Lipid peroxidation; Antioxidant vitamins; Alcohol-induced liver injury; Liver regeneration