OBJECTIVETo study on the relationship of serum vitamin E and liver pathological features in the patients with chronic hepatitis B.

METHODSSixty-six patients with chronic hepatitis B and ten healthy controls were enrolled in this present study. The serum vitamin E level was measured spectrophotometrically. Comparisons of liver function test, HBeAg and HBV DNA level were conducted among different liver pathological features including inflammatory grading and fibrosis staging.

RESULTSCompared with healthy controls, the serum level of vitamin E was significantly decreased in the patients with chronic hepatitis B, especially in those with elevated ALT activity. In comparison between HBeAg positive group and HBeAg negative group, the serum level of vitamin E of the former group did not significantly changed (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the serum level of vitamin E has been demonstrated to be negatively associated with the inflammation grading in the patients with chronic hepatitis B. However, there was no significant association between the serum vitamin E and liver fibrosis staging.

CONCLUSIONVitamin E, as one of the important anti-oxidants, was demonstrated to be implicated in the progression of liver inflammation in the patients with chronic hepatitis B. Furthermore, the supplement of vitamin E would be a potential therapy for attenuate the inflammatory response.