A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF OXIDATIVE STRESS PARAMETERS IN HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION & ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS

Abstract The liver has a critical role in metabolism, digestion, detoxification and elimination of substances from the body. Hence in diseased conditions, the products of free radicals from the liver increase which results in further damage to the vital organs. This study is done to compare the oxidative stress parameters in hepatitis B virus infected patients and alcoholic hepatitis patients. The study included 150 individuals (39 females) aged 25-75years of which the Group A included   normal healthy volunteers; Group B consisted of alcoholic hepatitis patients and Group C included hepatitis B patients. When compared to control, Erythrocyte MDA was significantly high and erythrocyte GSH was significantly low in both Group B and Group C where as Plasma Ascorbic Acid level & Serum α-Tocopherol were low in both the groups.  When group B and Group C were compared, MDA and GSH showed no significant difference (p>0.05) while α-Tocopherol and ascorbic acid levels varied significantly (p< 0.005).The liver enzymes were also significantly raised in both forms of Hepatitis, when compared to the control. The AST/ALT ratio was reversed (>1) in Group B (Alcoholic Hepatitis) as compared to Group C (Hepatitis B) and normal individuals (<1).  It is suggested that GSH, MDA in erythrocyte, Plasma Ascorbic Acid & Serum α-Tocopherol can be made an effective tool in assessing the progression of the liver disease for timely intervention.   Key words: Alcoholic Hepatitis, Ascorbic Acid, α-Tocopherol, Glutathione (GSH), Hepatitis B virus infection, Malondialdehyde (MDA)

STATUS OF SERUM MAGNESIUM, ZINC & COPPER IN PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM TYPE -2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Alterations in serum concentrations of several trace elements including copper, zinc, manganese, and the macroelement magnesium have been reported to occur in type-2 diabetes mellitus. This study is done to evaluate copper, zinc and magnesium status in diabetic and nondiabetic human subjects. In this comparative analysis, the serum concentration of copper, zinc and magnesium was estimated in 60 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus without complication and 40 healthy non-diabetic subjects.  The data was analyzed by students’t’ test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient test.Mean serum concentration of copper was significantly elevated in diabetic patients compared to control subjects.  Serum zinc levels were significantly low (p < 0.001) in diabetic subjects compared to controls . There were no significant differences in serum magnesium between groups. Fasting plasma glucose level has significant positive correlation with serum level of copper (r = 0.567; p < 0.001), while zinc has negative correlation (r = -0.311; p < 0.047), but there is no significant correlation of plasma glucose level with serum magnesium level. Diabetic patients have signiï¬cantly lower mean serum zinc levels and significantly higher serum copper concentration compared with healthy controls respectively. Along with antidiabetic therapy, supplementation of zinc and magnesium and chelation of copper can red