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Vitamin E and liver damage in MZ heterozygous infants with alpha 1 ‐antitrypsin deficiency
Author(s) -
Pittschieler Klaus
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1993.tb12647.x
Subject(s) - subclinical infection , medicine , vitamin e , alpha (finance) , liver damage , antioxidant , proteases , alpha tocopherol , vitamin e deficiency , endocrinology , alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency , oxidative damage , oxidative stress , physiology , biochemistry , biology , surgery , enzyme , construct validity , patient satisfaction
Low levels of alphal 1 ‐antitrypsin can predispose affected infants to develop a wide spectrum of liver diseases. Heterozygous PiMZ carriers can be affected by a subclinical liver involvement in the first six months of life. The liver damage appeals to be mediated by the activity of toxic oxygen waste products originating from partially unchecked proteases which can cause enough damage to impair hepatic function significantly. In the present study it was found that the antioxidant properties of vitamin E were able to reduce the frequency of liver dysfunction in PiMZ carriers at two but not at five months of age. Liver damage is highly related to low levels of alpha‐tocopherol in the plasma. These findings show that oxidative free radicals can promote liver damage in inadequately protected young infants, such as those affected by alpha,‐antitrypsin deficiency. The protective role of vitamin E in relation to the developmental expression of other antioxidant scavengers is discussed.