[Role of bilirubin as a natural antioxidant in regulating lipid peroxidation intensity in acute viral hepatitis].

Elevation of the content of lipid peroxidation (LPO) products in blood serum of patients with acute virus hepatitis (VH) is caused by an increase in the patients' blood serum lipids rather than by the intensity of peroxide reactions in lipids. There is a reverse correlation between the content of LPO products and bilirubin level and a direct correlation between lipid antioxidant activity (AOA) and bilirubin level. Marked antioxidant action of bilirubin that compares very favourably with the action of ionol (4-methyl-2,6-ditretbutylphenol) was demonstrated in the model of oxidation of methyl oleate. It was shown that the rise of lipid AOA during VH might be completely attributed to the antioxidant properties of bilirubin. It is suggested that elevation of bilirubin level and associated increase of lipid AOA during VH can be viewed as a reaction aimed at a decrease of the level of toxic products of LPO and intensification of reparative processes in the liver.