RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the plasma levels of ascorbic acid and vitamin E in patients with liver cirrhosis and to explore their significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The plasma levels of ascorbic acid,vitamin E and lipoperoxides in patients with liver cirrhosis were measured, and the results were compared with those of sex-and age-matched healthy subjects.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The plasma levels of ascorbic acid, vitamin E and lipoperoxides in the patients group were (42.94 +/-6.99)micromol/L, (17.99 +/-3.51)micromol/L and (14.09 +/-1.28)micromol/L, respectively, while those in the control group were (53.30 +/-9.45)micromol/L (t=9.50, P=0.000), (24.59 +/-7.22)micromol/L (t=7.94, P=0.000) and (12.11 +/-1.20)micromol/L (t=17.21, P=0.000), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The levels of ascorbic acid and vitamin E in patients with liver cirrhosis decrease significantly,which may indicates the disturbance of balance between oxidation and antioxidation.</p>