Effects of propylthiouracil, propranolol, and vitamin E on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in hyperthyroid patients

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine lipid peroxidation and antioxidant states during hyperthyroidism states and after given different treatments. Design and methods: We examined 44 hyperthyroid patients and 19 euthyroid h ealthy controls. Patients were divided into three groups according to the t reatment: Propylthiouracil (PTU) group, PTU + propranolol (PRP) group, PTU + PRP + vitamin E (vitE) group. Results: In the hyperthyroid patients plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels w ere significantly high as compared to the control group (p < 0.001). There was a significant decrease in the MDA levels post-treatment (p < 0.001 in t he PTU + PRP group and PTU + PRP + vitE group, p < 0.01 in the PTU group). In the hyperthyroidism, blood reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were lower, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were h igher than in the control group, but these changes were not significant. Po st-treatment in each of the three groups the GSH levels were increased sign ificantly as compared to the pretreatment levels (p < 0.001). There was sig nificant decrease in the SOD activity post treatment Go (0.01 in air three groups). Posttreatment CAT activity was decreased (p < 0.05 in the PTU grou p, p < 0.001 in the other two groups). The erythrocyte glutathione peroxida se (Gpx) activity was lower significantly in the hyperthyroidism as compare d to the control group (p < 0.001). Post-treatment, in the three groups Gpx activity increased significantly as compared to the pretreatment levels (p < 0.05 in the PTU group, p < 0.001 in the PTU + PRP group and PTU + PRP vitE group). Conclusion: We considered that giving all three treatments would be useful to the prevention of oxidative stress in the hyperthyroidism states. Copyri ght (C) 1999 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists.