Impact of weight reduction program on serum alanine aminotransferase activity and immunologic response in obese hepatitis B patients

Abstract

Background: Globally, chronic B viral hepatitis (HBV) is a major health problem. Obesity is a common problem among patients with HBV. Several studies have reported that obesity is an important risk factor that alters immune system response in individuals with no underlying cause of liver disease. However, there is a strong association between BMI and the human immune system among HBV patients.

Objective: This study was to examine the correlation between body mass index, serum alanine aminotransferase activity (ALT) and immunologic response in obese hepatitis B patients.

Material and methods: One hundred fifty male patients with chronic hepatitis B virus, their age ranged from 30 to 45 (38.64 ± 7.12) years and their BMI ranged from 30-35 kg/m(2). All Subjects were included in two groups: The first group received weight reduction program in the form of treadmill aerobic exercises in addition to diet control whereas the second group received no therapeutic intervention. Parameters of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), CD3, CD4 and CD8 were quantified; Leukocyte, differential counts and body mass index (BMI) were measured before and after 3 months at the end of the study.

Results: There was a 24.7%, 36.8%, 30.8%, 40.7%, 28.6%, 25.9%, 33.3% and 14.3 % reduction in mean values of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), white blood cells, total neutrophil count, monocytes, CD3, CD4 , CD8 and BMI respectively in group (A) at the end of the study. In addition, there were significant differences between mean levels of the investigated parameters in groups.

Conclusion: Based on our findings, weight loss modulates serum alanine aminotransferase and immune system parameters of patients with hepatitis B virus infection.

Keywords: Hepatitis B virus; immune system; obesity; weight reduction.