The effect of lipoate on anaerobic cysteine metabolism in erythrocytes of patients treated with peritoneal dialysis.

BACKGROUND The studies aimed to evaluate the changes in cysteine sulfur metabolism in erythrocytes of end-stage renal failure (ESRF) patients treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) caused by a one-month lipoate (LA) supplementation at a daily dose of 600 mg. METHODS The level of sulfane sulfur and activity of sulfurtransferases were determined in erythrocytes of CAPD patients and in the control group. RESULTS The sulfane sulfur level in erythrocytes of CAPD patients did not differ compared with healthy volunteers but LA supplementation increased the reactive sulfur concentration. LA elevated also cystathionase activity. CONCLUSIONS LA supplementation in ESRF patients treated with CAPD increases the sulfane sulfur level which indicates the augmentation of its antioxidant and regulatory properties.