A randomized clinical study to evaluate the possible antifibrotic effect of zinc sulfate in chronic HCV patient receiving direct-acting anti-viral therapy.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the potential antifibrotic impact of zinc sulfate in chronic Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) patients receiving direct-acting antiviral therapy.

Methods: This randomized controlled study included 50 chronic HCV-infected patients with fibrosis stage (F1 & F2). Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: Group 1 (Control group, n = 25) received standard direct-acting antiviral therapy for 3 months, while Group 2 (Zinc group, n = 25) received 50 mg/day of zinc sulfate in addition to the standard direct-acting antiviral therapy for the same duration. Baseline and 3-month post-intervention assessments included evaluating serum levels of hyaluronic acid, transforming growth factor beta-1, and fibronectin. Furthermore, indices of liver fibrosis, such as the Fibrosis Index based on the 4 factors (FIB-4) and the Aspartate Transaminase-to-Platelet-Ratio Index (APRI), were calculated during these assessments.

Results: At baseline, the two studied groups had no statistical difference in demographic and laboratory data. After treatment, serum zinc levels significantly increased in the zinc-treated group compared to the control group. Additionally, serum fibronectin and hyaluronic acid levels were significantly reduced in group 2 (zinc group) compared to group 1 (control group). Moreover, zinc group showed lower APRI scores than the control group after a 3-month follow-up period, but there was non-significant difference in FIB-4 scores between the two groups after treatment. Furthermore, total bilirubin levels were reduced after zinc therapy for 3 months.

Conclusions: Administering zinc sulfate could potentially serve as a safe and efficient therapeutic strategy for the management of hepatic fibrosis in individuals with chronic hepatitis C virus.

Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05465434, On 19/7/2022.