The effect of antioxidant supplementation on superoxide dismutase activity, Cu and Zn levels, and total antioxidant status in erythrocytes of patients with Graves' disease

Abstract

The effects of supplementation with a fixed combination of antioxidants (vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and selenium) on superoxide dismutase activity, copper and zinc concentrations, and total antioxidant status were monitored in erythrocytes derived from a group of patients with Graves' disease treated with methimazole, with respect to the rate of achieving euthyroidism. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid hormones and the above-mentioned parameters were measured before therapy, and on days 30 and 60 after therapy initiation. The patients receiving antioxidant supplementation along with methimazole therapy (group A, n = 27) achieved euthyroidism at a faster rate than those treated with methimazole alone (group B, n = 28). The activity of superoxide dismutase decreased significantly in both patient groups during the treatment; however, there was no significant difference between the groups. There was no significant change in the erythrocyte concentration of copper, whereas the zinc concentration and total antioxidant status showed significant between-group differences. The study results clearly show that antioxidant supplementation in the treatment of Graves' disease is justified, while zinc and total antioxidant status in erythrocytes seem to be sensitive indicators of the efficacy of supplemental therapy.

Total oxidant/antioxidant status in sera of patients with thyroid cancers

“…However, concerning the study of oxidative stress for thyroid cancer patients and/or benign thyroid disease patients, most researchers only determined the TAS (Mayer et al . 2004, Bacic-Vrca et al . 2005, Andryskowski & Owczarek 2007, Ish-Shalom et al .…”

Selenium and thyroid autoimmunity

“…In addition, the authors showed that TSH-receptor antibodies levels and serum Se values were positively correlated in the relapse group, whereas a negative correlation of both parameters were seen in the remission group, supporting the idea of a positive effect of Se on thyroidal autoimmune process (Wertenbruch et al 2007). One study from Croatia, evaluated the effects of supplementation with a fixed combination of antioxidants (vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and selenium) on superoxide dismutase activity, copper and zinc concentrations, and total antioxidant status in erythrocytes derived from a group of patients with GD treated with methimazole, with respect to the rate of achieving euthyroidism (Bacic-Vrca et al 2005). Results showed that patients receiving antioxidant supplementation along with methimazole therapy achieved euthyroidism at a faster rate than those treated with methimazole alone.…”

Copper(II) complexes of methimazole, an anti Grave’s disease drug. Synthesis, characterization and its potential biological behavior as alkaline phosphatase inhibitor

“…Several investigations related to different aspects of methimazole have been published. Medicinal research includes: (a) effects on stress prevention and chemical induced gastropathy in rats (Al Moutaery 2003), (b) the inhibition of melanin synthesis in cultured B16 melanocytes (Kasraee et al 2004), (c) the correction of insulin resistance in methimazoletreated patients (Tene et al 2001), (d) the upregulation of the T-cell-derived cytokines (Kocjan et al 2004), (e) the effect of antioxidant supplementation on superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (Bacic-Vrca et al 2005), among others. It is well known that metal ions play a vital role in a vast of widely different biological processes and most of the biologically active compounds act via chelation.…”