Research Article Details
Article ID: | A36722 |
PMID: | 17388862 |
Source: | Intern Med J |
Title: | Effects of vitamin E treatment on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha expression and insulin resistance in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: results of a pilot study. |
Abstract: | BACKGROUND: Insulin resistance (IR) is commonly associated with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-alpha) may also play a role in the pathogenesis of NASH. A pivotal role in NASH pathogenesis depends on the hypothesis of increased oxidative stress. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of supplemental oral vitamin E, a potent antioxidant, on liver functions, PPAR-alpha expression and IR in patients with NASH. METHODS: Nine patients with biopsy-proven NASH were given oral vitamin E 800 mg daily for 24 weeks. Liver functions, lipid parameters, IR index with homeostatic metabolic assessment and liver histology and PPAR-alpha staining index in biopsy specimens were detected before and after the treatment. RESULTS: Seven patients (78%) had IR initially. After 6 months of therapy in nine patients, fasting insulin improved (P = 0.01), but serum cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting blood glucose levels and body mass index remained unchanged. Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels decreased (P = 0.01 and P = 0.01, respectively). IR index with homeostatic metabolic assessment resistance improved (P = 0.01), but PPAR-alpha staining index did not change (P = 0.37). Although the histological grade of steatosis decreased (P = 0.01), necroinflammation and fibrosis remained unchanged. In seven patients with IR, however, necroinflammation and PPAR-alpha staining index were improved (P = 0.04 and P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Vitamin E treatment, in addition to its previously shown beneficial effect by suppressing oxidative stress, may also achieve improvement by reducing IR and PPAR-alpha expression in NASH. |
DOI: | 10.1111/j.1445-5994.2006.01295.x |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S01 | Improve insulin resistance | insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance | Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist | Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide | Details |
S03 | Anti-fibrosis | fibrosis | Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB); CCR2/CCR5 antagonist; Thyroid receptor β agonist; PEGylated human FGF21 analogue; Monoclonal antibody to lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2); Galectin-3 inhibitor; FGF19 variant | Losartan; Cenicriviroc; VK-2809; MGL-3196; Pegbelfermin; Simtuzumab; GR-MD-02; NGM282 | Details |
S04 | Anti-oxidative stress | oxidative stress | α-tocopherol: antioxidant | Vitamin E | Details |
Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I05 | 9352 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus | A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 | disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus | Details |
Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D579 | Emfilermin | Miscellany | -- | adipocytes | Enhance lipid metabolism | Under investigation | Details |
D388 | Vitamin E | Supplement | DB00163 | NR1I2; ALOX5; DGKA | Anti-inflammatory | Under clinical trials | Details |
D199 | L-alanine | Chemical drug | DB00160 | KYNU | -- | Failed in clinical trials | Details |
D328 | Serine | Chemical drug | DB00133 | SRR | Improve insulin resistance | Under clinical trials | Details |
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |