Technical advance

Measurement of the total antioxidant response using a novel automated method in subjects with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Mehmet Horoz¹ , Cengiz Bolukbas² , Fusun F Bolukbas² , Tevfik Sabuncu³ , Mehmet Aslan¹ , Serpil Sarifakiogullari¹ , Necla Gunaydin⁴ and Ozcan Erel⁴

¹  Harran University, Department of Internal Medicine, Sanliurfa, Turkey

²  Harran University, Department of Gastroenterology, Sanliurfa, Turkey

³  Harran University, Department of Endocrinology, Sanliurfa, Turkey

⁴  Harran University, Department of Biochemistry, Sanliurfa, Turkey

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BMC Gastroenterology 2005, 5:35doi:10.1186/1471-230X-5-35

Published:	11 November 2005

Abstract

Background

Oxidative stress, an increase in oxidants and/or a decrease in antioxidant capacity, is one of the potential biochemical mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. We aimed to investigate the total antioxidant response using a novel automated method in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis subjects. As a reciprocal measure, we also aimed to determine total peroxide level in the same plasma samples.

Methods

Twenty-two subjects with biopsy proven nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and 22 healthy controls were enrolled. Total antioxidant response and total peroxide level measurements were done in all participants. The ratio percentage of total peroxide level to total antioxidant response was regarded as oxidative stress index.

Results

Total antioxidant response of subjects with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis was significantly lower than controls (p < 0.05), while mean total peroxide level and mean oxidative stress index were higher (all p < 0.05).

In subjects with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, fibrosis score was significantly correlated with total peroxide level, total antioxidant response and oxidative stress index (p < 0.05, r = 0.607; p < 0.05, r = -0.506; p < 0.05, r = 0.728, respectively). However, no correlation was observed between necroimflamatory grade and those oxidative status parameters (all p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is associated with increased oxidant capacity, especially in the presence of liver fibrosis. The novel automated assay is a reliable and easily applicable method for total plasma antioxidant response measurement in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.