The effects of thiamine and thiamine pyrophosphate on alcohol-induced hepatic damage biomarkers in rats.

OBJECTIVE This study examined the effects of thiamine and thiamine pyrophosphate on oxidative damage developing in association with hepatic injury caused by alcohol toxicity in rats and on hepatic injury markers. MATERIALS AND METHODS Four groups of rats were used; control, a group receiving thiamine+ethanol, a group receiving thiamine pyrophosphate+ethanol and a healthy group. The experimental protocol was repeated over 30 days. Malondialdehyde, glutathione and DNA damage product levels in liver tissue were measured at the end of the study. Alanine amino transferase and aspartate amino transferase, markers of liver damage, levels were determined. The results were then compared among the groups. RESULTS A statistically significant difference between antioxidant markers and markers of liver damage was determined between the group given thiamine pyrophosphate ethanol and the group given ethanol alone (p < 0.01) No statistically significant difference was observed between the group given thiamine and ethanol and the group given ethanol alone (p > 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that thiamine pyrophosphate may have a protective effect against liver damage caused by alcohol toxicity.