Science Journal of Medicine and Clinical Trials

June 2014,Volume 2014, ISSN: 2276-7487

© Author(s) 2014. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Research Article

 

Study the Efficacy of Folic Acid Supplementation on Hepatotxicity Induced by Hyperhomocysteinemia in Male Rats

Maha . A. Al-Qaraawi

Departmet of Biology, Faculty of Sciences at Riyadh , Princess Noura University, Saudi Arabia.

Accepted 8 April, 2014; Available Online 27 June,2014

doi: 10.7237/sjmct/100

Abstract:

ncreased serum homocysteine (Hcy) can induce liver diseases and can play a role in hepatic disorders. The purpose of the present study therefore was to investigate the relationship between serum hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) induced by methionine administration , folic acid and liver functions . The present study was designed to induce hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) in male rats. Also,to evaluate, the effect of (HHcy) as a risk factor for liver disorder and folic acid supplementation on serum levels of Hcy, alanine transaminase (AST), aspartate transamenase (AST) ,lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) , albumin ,globulin ,and albumin /globulin ratio and total protein . In this work 50 male albino rats were used and divided into five groups .The first served as control ., the second and third group received two different dose of L-methionine ., the fourth and fifth group received fortified diet with folic acid powder plus L-methionine . The results showed that homocysteine levels in rats received low and high dose of methionine were higher than in the control group , and increased activity of serum AST with low and high dose of methionine , while LDH significantly decreased in high dose treated rats compared to control group . Serum level of proteins , albumin and globulin significantly decreased in rats received low and high dose of methionine compared with control group . In rats supplemented with folic acid we found an increased activity of AST in low dose of methionine treated rats , while serum ALTactivity increased accompanied with decreased LDH activity in low and high dose of methionine compared to both methionine treated groups .Serum level of proteins , albumin and globulin significantly decreased in rats received low dose of methionine and supplemented with folic acid when compared with low dose treated rats, while rats treated with folic acid and high dose of methionine a significant increase in total proteins , albumin , compared to high methionine treated groups . A positive correlation was seen between the activities of transferases in serum of HHcy rats It can be concluded that hyperhomocysteinemia may be an additional risk factor for liver cirrhosis and diatery supplementation with folic acid blocking the activity of homocysteine and may be considered as a therapeutic possibility in patients with hepatic disorders and . Also,plasma Hcy and folic acid measurement may be useful in the evaluation of liver cirrhotic patients .

Keyword: Homocysteine , folic acid , methionine ,liver cirrhosis ,hepatic disorders

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