Antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects of Viusid in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the efficacy of Viusid, a nutritional supplement, as an antioxidant and an immunomodulator in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: Sixty patients with chronic hepatitis C who were non-responders to standard antiviral treatment were randomly assigned to receive Viusid (3 sachets daily, n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 24 wk. The primary outcome was the change in serum malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxyalkenals (lipid peroxidation products). Secondary outcomes were changes in serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-10 (IL-10).

Results: Statistically significant reductions in serum 4-hydroxyalkenals and malondialdehyde levels were observed in both groups in comparison with pretreatment values, but the patients who received Viusid showed a more marked reduction as compared with the control group (P = 0.001). TNF-alpha levels significantly increased from 6.9 to 16.2 pg/mL (P < 0.01) in the patients who received placebo in comparison with almost unchanged levels, from 6.6 to 7.1 pg/mL (P = 0.26), in the patients treated with Viusid (P = 0.001). In addition, IL-10 levels were markedly increased in the patients treated with Viusid (from 2.6 to 8.3 pg/mL, P = 0.04) in contrast to the patients assigned to placebo (from 2.8 to 4.1 pg/mL, P = 0.09) (P = 0.01). Likewise, the administration of Viusid markedly increased mean IFN-gamma levels from 1.92 to 2.89 pg/mL (P < 0.001) in comparison with a reduction in mean levels from 1.80 to 1.68 pg/mL (P = 0.70) in the placebo group (P < 0.0001). Viusid administration was well tolerated.

Conclusion: Our results indicate that treatment with Viusid leads to a notable improvement of oxidative stress and immunological parameters in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Figures

Figure 1

Flow of participants through the study.

Figure 2

Change in mean serum malondialdehyde (MDA) (A) and serum 4-hydroxyalkenals (B) levels during the treatment period. Error bars indicate SE. P value for the comparison of the Viusid and the control group at 24 wk. A comparative analysis was performed using Wilcoxon rank-sum test.

Figure 3

Change in mean serum levels of TNF-α (A), IFN-γ (B), IL-1α (C) and serum IL-10 (D) during the treatment period. Error bars indicate SE. P values for the comparison of the Viusid and the control group at 24 wk. A comparative analysis was performed using Wilcoxon rank-sum test. TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor-α; IFN-γ: Interferon-γ; IL-1α: Interleukin-1α; IL-10: Interleukin-10.