Introduction and Background: The incidence of atherosclerosis among hemodialysis patients is very high. A considerable proportion of hemodialysis patients lack traditional risk factors of atherosclerosis. Oxidative stress is considered a major factor in morbidity and mortality among them.
Objectives: Evaluating the effects of dietary supplementation with Silymarin and/or vitamin E on oxidative stress markers, lipid profile, and hemoglobin level in hemodialysis patientsa.
Design: Eighty hemodialysis patients were randomized into 4 groups: Group 1 received Silymarin 140 mg three times daily; Group 2 received Vitamin E 400 IU/day; Group 3 received Silymarin 140 mg three times daily and Vitamin E 400 IU/day; Group 4 was the control. The duration of the study was 3 weeks. Vitamin E was administered as 400 mg pills.
Setting and Conduct: Samples were obtained at baseline and on day 21 for measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA), RBC glutathione peroxidase (GPX), hemoglobin and lipid profiles. Fasting blood samples (10 ml) were collected in EDTA-containing tubes from the arterial line immediately before a mid week dialysis session, before heparin administration, and immediately before supplementation (baseline) and on day 21 after the intervention period. Samples were immediately centrifuged and frozen at −70°C.
Participants including major eligibility criteria:
Subjects were recruited from among clinically stable hemodialysis patients (age range 18–60 years) in Ebrahimi Hemodialysis Center in Sadra City (Shiraz, Iran). All patients received four hour hemodialysis treatments, three times per week. The membrane and the general dialysis prescription were similar for all patients. Exclusion criteria consisted of history of a cardiovascular event within the previous 12 months, use of cholesterol-lowering agents (statins), Omega-3, Vitamin E, levothyroxin, and oral contraceptives. Patients with any active infection including hepatitis B or C, New York Heart Association class III and IV heart failure were also excluded.