Impaired mitochondrial β-oxidation in chronic hepatitis C patients, evidenced by fasting test

Abstract

Impaired mitochondrial β-oxidation by HCV core protein causes hepatic steatosis in hepatitis C patients. We assessed mitochondrial β-oxidation and HCV core antigenemia in six patients with chronic hepatitis C by detecting serum concentrations of total ketone bodies, triglyceride, and HCV core protein. All but one (5/6) patients showed significantly lower level of total ketone bodies than normal controls at 15 hours after the start of fasting test (170.6±158.4 vs 370.6±70.2 μmol/L, p<0.05). The result suggests that impaired mitochondrial β-oxidation exists in some or most of hepatitis C patients.