Exploring protective potential of Vitamin E in mitigating liver steatosis in alcoholic liver injury.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate and assess the efficacy of Vitamin E in preventing or reducing fatty liver changes associated with alcoholic liver injury. Study Design: Experimental study. Setting: Department of Anatomy and Animal Facility of Peshawar Medical College, Peshawar. Period: February 2018 to April 2020. Methods: The study involved eighteen male domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), organizing them into categories based on the time frames specified for the research. Animals in "Category E8" were subjected to an 8-week time period, while those in "Category E4" underwent a 4-week experimental duration. Each category was further divided into three groups: "Control Group A" received standard laboratory food and daily access to normal saline as drinking water, "Experimental Group B" received standard nutrition, a 30% ethanol solution in distal water (30ml per kg/day) and normal saline for drinking, and "Experimental Group C" was treated with the necessary standard diet, a 30% ethanol solution in distal water (30ml per kg/day), and "Vitamin E" (50mg dissolved in 2ml distal water per kg/day) via nasogastric tube. Liver tissue specimens from all animals were stained with H&E and Masson’s trichrome stain for quantification of fatty change. Results: A significant difference in steatosis development was observed among the E4 groups and among the E8 groups having a respective p-values of 0.001 and 0.003. This underscored the impact of alcohol within the context of alcohol-induced liver injury. However, no appreciable differences were noted between BI & CI and BII & CII (p-values > 0.05) indicating no significant distinction in liver steatosis between subjects treated with vitamin E and those not receiving vitamin E. Conclusion: In the context of alcohol-induced liver injury, the study failed to deliver anticipated protective benefits of vitamin E. There is a possibility of adverse effects, potentially rendering its use counterproductive.