Vitamin E Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Vitamin E, including details on benefits, dosage, supplements, antioxidants.

Effects of vitamin E treatment on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha expression and insulin resistance in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: results of a pilot study.

Yakaryilmaz F, Guliter S, Savas B, Erdem O, Ersoy R, Erden E, Akyol G, Bozkaya H, Ozenirler S

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Kirikkale, School of Medicine, Kirikkale, Turkey. fahriyy67@yahoo.com

BACKGROUND: Insulin resistance (IR) is commonly associated with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-alpha) may also play a role in the pathogenesis of NASH. A pivotal role in NASH pathogenesis depends on the hypothesis of increased oxidative stress. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of supplemental oral vitamin E, a potent antioxidant, on liver functions, PPAR-alpha expression and IR in patients with NASH. METHODS: Nine patients with biopsy-proven NASH were given oral vitamin E 800 mg daily for 24 weeks. Liver functions, lipid parameters, IR index with homeostatic metabolic assessment and liver histology and PPAR-alpha staining index in biopsy specimens were detected before and after the treatment. RESULTS: Seven patients (78%) had IR initially. After 6 months of therapy in nine patients, fasting insulin improved (P = 0.01), but serum cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting blood glucose levels and body mass index remained unchanged. Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels decreased (P = 0.01 and P = 0.01, respectively). IR index with homeostatic metabolic assessment resistance improved (P = 0.01), but PPAR-alpha staining index did not change (P = 0.37). Although the histological grade of steatosis decreased (P = 0.01), necroinflammation and fibrosis remained unchanged. In seven patients with IR, however, necroinflammation and PPAR-alpha staining index were improved (P = 0.04 and P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Vitamin E treatment, in addition to its previously shown beneficial effect by suppressing oxidative stress, may also achieve improvement by reducing IR and PPAR-alpha expression in NASH.

Published 28 March 2007 in Intern Med J, 37(4): 229-35.
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