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 meanĀ±s.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 P<0.05. 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.
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Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the valuable suggestions of Dr K Prabhakaran, Senior Scientist, Biochemistry Research Branch, Gillis W Long Hansen's Disease Center at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. USA We are also thankful to the former Directors of CLT & RI, Dr VN Bhatia, Dr KV Krishnamurthy, Dr LN Rao Bhau and clinicians Dr E Jeyarama, Dr S Thangaiah, Dr V Durai, Dr PK Panda, Dr S Sathiya, Dr TS Geetha for their support and help in diagnosis and classification, and the laboratory staff of CLT & RI : Mr M Rajendren, Mr TK Ramaswamy, Mr D Anandan. Mr K Arunagiri of CLT & RI for their technical assistance. We are thankful to the librarian of CLT & RI Mr A Rajendran and Mr V Sundaraj for providing relevant literature. The study subjects receive our thanks for their cooperation. We are grateful to Soft caps India Limited, Chennai (Madras), for providing vitamin E capsules.
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Guarantor: R Vijayaraghavan and C Panneerselvam.
Contributors: CP is a professor of medical biochemistry mainly responsible for ideas, design and guidance of this study. CSS is a biochemist with prolonged experience in the field of Biochemical aspects of Hansen's disease (Leprosy) coordinated in the sampling in this study. BS and PKO are experts in the field of Hansen's disease (leprosy) who served as advisors and examined the diagnostic aspects of this study. SNK and NM are research scientists who contributed to the statistical analysis of this manuscript and interpretation of results.
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Vijayaraghavan, R., Suribabu, C., Sekar, B. et al. Protective role of vitamin E on the oxidative stress in Hansen's disease (Leprosy) patients. Eur J Clin Nutr 59, 1121ā1128 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602221
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602221
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