Silybin supplementation during HCV therapy with pegylated interferon-α plus ribavirin reduces depression and anxiety and increases work ability

Table 3 Characteristics of subjects at baseline, after 12 months, and at follow-up. Values are expressed as Mean (SD)

Group A Peg-IFN α + RBV + placebo (n = 31)
	Before treatment	After 6 months	P-value	After 12 months	P-value	Follow-up	P-value1
AST (IU/l)	173.2 ± 37.8	94.1 ± 37.2	<0.001	65.4 ± 21.8	<0.001	63.2 ± 22.9	<0.001
ALT (IU/l)	187.2 ± 37.2	156.2 ± 38.7	<0.001	70.4 ± 15.2	<0.001	76.2 ± 15.8	<0.001
Bilirubin (mmol/l)	10.6 ± 7.9	10.4 ± 6.7	NS	10.2 ± 6.6	NS	10.4 ± 6.7	NS
Albumin (g/dl)	4.1 ± 0.8	4.2 ± 0.7	NS	4.0 ± 0.8	NS	4.2 ± 0.6	NS
Viremia (10⁶ IU/ml)	5.21 ± 2.24	3.8 ± 2.1	<0.05	2.67 ± 1.9	<0.001	2.8 ± 1.8	<0.001
HAI	10.7 ± 3.2	-	-	7.9 ± 2.4	<0.001	-	-
Group B Peg IFN α + RBV + Silybin, Vit E, phospholipids (n = 31)
	Before treatment	After 6 months	P-value	After 12 months	P-value	Follow-up	P-value
AST (IU/l)	178.4 ± 37.4	87.7 ± 31.4	<0.001	47.2 ± 16.8	<0.001	47.8 ± 18.2	<0.001
ALT (IU/l)	184.1 ± 38.2	78.8 ± 38.7	<0.001	39.4 ± 13.8	<0.001	41.8 ± 19.8	<0.001
Bilirubin (mmol/l)	10.2 ± 7.1	10.3 ± 6.9	NS	10.2 ± 3.1	NS	10.2 ± 4.9	NS
Albumin (g/dl)	4.1 ± 0.3	4.2 ± 0.6	NS	4.2 ± 0.8	NS	4.2 ± 0.6	NS
Viremia (10⁶ IU/ml)	5.20 ± 2.44	2.67 ± 1.9	<0.001	1.9 ± 1.7	<0.001	1.97 ± 1.8	<0.001
HAI	10.9 ± 3.4	-	-	7.9 ± 2.1	<0.001	-	-

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