EVIDENCE OF ANTIOXIDANT ROLE OF VITAMIN-C IN CHRONIC-HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Excessive lipid peroxidation (LPO) in chronic hemodialiysis patients o ccurs due to incapacity of antioxidant defence system. The purpose of this work was to determine the antioxidant role of vitamin C. Dialyzed patients (n = 17) with elevated serum values of malondialdehyde (MDA) , as free radicals related substance, were treated during 3 months wit h 1.000 mg of vitamin C after each dialysis. The values of MDA before the therapy were 37.78 nmol/ml +/- 5.33 SD. At the end of the study a statistical significant (p < 0.001) decrease of MDA was observed. Obta ined values of 13.37 nmol/ml +/- 2.72 SD were close to normal: 11.50 n mol/ml +/- 3.60 SD with p < 0.05. As the level of vitamin C depends of a dietary source dialyzed patients generally show its deficiency. The substitution of ascorbate acid may represent a promising approach in the prevention of LPO.