TITLE:
Effect of Ascorbic Acid Supplementation on Liver Function Tests in Hepatitis C Patients
AUTHORS:
Iffat Nayila
KEYWORDS:
Supplementation, Ascorbic Acid, Liver Function Tests, Alanine Aminotransferase, Aspartate Aminotransferase, Significant, Diagnoses, Alkaline Phosphatase
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Internal Medicine,
Vol.10 No.3,
August
21,
2020
ABSTRACT: An isolated liver function test is of little role in selection of liver disease because many harmful liver diseases may be correlated with normal levels of LFT’s. The outline of enzyme abnormalities in the perspective of patient’s commonly observed symptoms and laboratory data might be helpful in directing the subsequent diagnosis of liver diseases. Liver Function Tests (LFTs) are most generally used screening blood tests for assessment of different liver diseases and these tests provide a lot of evidence for disease processes whether for the purpose of investigation of supposed liver disease or help in observing the progress of disease action or simply by blood investigation. The evaluation of different liver enzymes simply gives diagnostic information on basic level whether patient’s principal disorder is actually hepatitis or cholestasis in source. However, it is necessary in various cases to evaluate LFTs with knowledge of liver functioning enzyme fractions. The objective of this study was to explore the effects of ascorbic acid supplementation on serum liver function tests in Hepatitis C patients. A total of 100 hepatitis C patients were selected randomly. 50 were given ascorbic acid supplementation for one month along with anti HCV treatment. The other 50 HCV patients took their normal anti HCV treatment without intake of ascorbic acid supplementation, and serum ascorbic acid level and liver function test parameters were observed before and after intake of ascorbic acid in both groups. The liver function parameters determined were aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin and serum protein (total protein, albumin, globulin and A/G ratio). These parameters along with serum ascorbic acid were measured before and 30 days after vitamin C supplementation. Various abnormally elevated LFTs were also improved more rapidly when compared to other group which was not given ascorbic acid supplements for the period of one month. There was a significant change in levels of some liver function parameters before and after intake of ascorbic acid supplementation, and various abnormally elevated LFTs were also improved when compared to other group which was not given ascorbic acid supplements for the period of one month. The effect of Vitamin C supplementation was more marked on serum aminotransferase levels. After one-month use of ascorbic acid, serum alanine aminotransferase (p