Protective role of vitamin E on the oxidative stress in Hansen's disease (Leprosy) patients

Abstract

Background: A constellation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) capable of damaging cellular constituents generated in excess during the chronic, inflammatory, neurodegenerative disease process of leprosy. The consequences of this leads to enhanced oxidative stress and lower antioxidant status. Enzymatic antioxidants provide first line defense against ROS. We have measured the levels of oxidative stress indices like lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein carbonyls together with enzymatic antioxidants in the blood samples of control and leprosy patients. Nutritional rehabilitation by way of exogenous supplementation of functionally efficient antioxidants like vitamin E reactivates the enzymatic antioxidant system and guards against the insult caused by ROS during the pathogenesis of the disease and antileprosy chemotherapy. Design: Untreated leprosy patients were selected on the basis of clinical examination and skin smear. All diagnosed untreated leprosy patients received multi drug therapy (MDT) consisting of rifampicin, dapsone and clofazimine as recommended by World Health Organization. A small number of untreated cases were selected for co-supplementation of vitamin E along with MDT. Oxidative stress indices, enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant status were assayed in untreated, MDT treated and those supplemented vitamin E along with MDT. Statistical methods: We have compared the significance in the mean7s.d. values of the oxidative stress indices and the levels of antioxidants using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) between control, untreated, MDT treated and those supplemented vitamin E with MDT and the results were significant at Po0.05. Statistical analysis of the results suggests that oral administration of vitamin E lowers oxidative stress and augments antioxidant status in affected individuals. Results: Enhanced oxidative stress as evidenced by increased LPO and protein carbonyl in leprosy cases lowers the antioxidant status. Treatment with MDT has a limited impact on increased oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant status. Coadministration of vitamin E along with MDT decreases oxidative stress and activate the antioxidant status. Discussion: The excess production of ROS as seen in leprosy cases could lead to degeneration of tissues and derangement of internal organs. The possible reason for the decreased antioxidant status in leprosy cases may be increased production of ROS, deranged liver function, and the free radical producing ability of drugs used in MDT of leprosy. Intervention with antioxidant supplementation like vitamin E prevents oxidative stress mediated through ROS and activates the net antioxidant status during the chronic course of the disease and antileprosy chemotherapy.

Antioxidant therapy attenuates oxidative stress in chronic cardiopathy associated with Chagas' disease

“…Vitamin E is considered the most effective chain-breaker of propagation reactions in membranes [8,45]. Accordingly, oral administration of vitamin E was able to decrease oxidative stress in patients with Hanseniasis, who also showed decreased contents in TBARS and protein carbonyl [46], and similar results were obtained in other diseases [47].…”

Antioxidants Protect Keratinocytes against M. ulcerans Mycolactone Cytotoxicity

“…There is no publicly available knowledge about the local and systemic oxidative status in BU patients. In two other mycobacterial diseases, leprosy and urogenital tuberculosis, there are signs of systemic oxidative stress that can be ameliorated by vitamin E supplementation [46], [47]. It is interesting to note that reactive oxygen species are able to suppress T cell functions [48] and regulate intracellular survival of mycobacteria [49].…”

Estresse oxidativo e micronutrientes na hanseníase

“…Alguns estudos revelam essa tendência, porém os resultados são conflitantes devido à falta de padronização e rigor metodológico (dose suplementada, no caso vitamina E, tipos da doença, administração da poloquimioterapia, entre outros) 38,39 . Faz-se necessária a realização de ensaio clínico randomizado duplo cego para se obterem recomendações com alto nível de evidência, bem como estudos para elucidação das respostas imunológicas e inflamatórias da doença.…”