ubiquinone-q2 and Hepatitis--Chronic

We have applied our method for the simultaneous detection of plasma ubiquinol-10 (reduced form) and ubiquinone-10 (oxidized form) (S. Yamashita and Y. Yamamoto, Anal. Biochem. 250, 66-73, 1997) to plasmas of normal subjects (n = 16) and patients with chronic active hepatitis (n = 28), liver cirrhosis (n = 16), and hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 20) to evaluate the pressure of oxidative stress in these patients. The average ubiquinone-10 percentages (+/- S.D.) in total ubiquinone-10 and ubiquinol-10 in the four groups were 6.4 +/- 3.3, 12.9 +/- 10.3, 10.6 +/- 6.8, and 18.9 +/- 11.1, respectively, indicating a significant increase in ubiquinone-10 percentage in patient groups in comparison to normal subjects. These results and a significant decrease in the plasma ascorbate level in patient groups indicate that oxidative stress is evident after the onset of hepatitis and the subsequent cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Biomarkers; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Carotenoids; Cholesterol; Cholesterol Esters; Female; Hepatitis, Chronic; Humans; Liver Cirrhosis; Liver Diseases; Liver Neoplasms; Lycopene; Male; Middle Aged; Oxidative Stress; Ubiquinone; Vitamin E