Clinical Trial: Effect of Vitamin E on Skin Aerobic Bacteria in Palmar Arsenical Keratosis

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Randomized, Open Label Trial of Vitamin E on Change of Aerobic Bacterial Pattern

Brief Summary: This study will be conducted to observe any change in aerobic bacterial pattern on the skin of arsenicosis patients before and after administration of vitamin E (200 IU) capsules.

Detailed Summary: Arsenicosis has emerged as one of the main and hazardous public health problem in Bangladesh. Melanosis and keratosis are the most common manifestations of arsenicosis. The exact mechanism of development of keratosis is not clear. With chronic ingestion of arsenic contaminated water the excretion of arsenic through skin increases and also the oxidative stress, which in turn cause cellular damage. These changes may influence the growth of normal bacteria and consistency of skin, which may be responsible for keratosis. In different study results shown that, vitamin E, a potential antioxidant that halts lipid peroxidation and maintains cell membrane integrity, also detoxified arsenic from the body. Normal skin bacteria mainly composed of Gram +ve bacteria. In arsenicosis, this pattern changes from Gram +ve bacteria to Gram -ve bacteria. Still now no study have been conducted to see, the effect of vitamin E on skin bacteria in arsenicosis, as skin bacteria changes. Therefore, this study will be conducted to observe any change in aerobic bacterial pattern on the skin of arsenicosis before and after administration of vitamin E capsules. Fifteen patients with skin manifestations, 15 arsenic exposed control, 15 healthy volunteers will be recruited on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria. They will be provide vitamin E capsules 200 IU twice daily for 12 weeks without any interruption. Water and nail samples will be collected for confirming the diagnosis. Skin samples will be collected two times (before and after giving vitamin E) for qualitative analysis of bacteria. All the patients, arsenic exposed controls and healthy subjects will be provided with same capsule in same dosage schedule. So, this study will find any change of skin bacteria pattern after administrating vitamin E capsule.
Sponsor: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Current Primary Outcome: Identification of aerobic bacteria in five areas of the skin [ Time Frame: 0 weeks (baseline), 12 weeks (end) ]

Change in Number of aerobic bacteria in five areas (palm, dorsum of the hand, front of the chest, axilla and nare) of the skin of patients in comparison to arsenic exposed controls and healthy volunteers after 12 weeks of supplementation with vitamin E


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome: Clinical improvement in palmar arsenical keratosis following supplementation [ Time Frame: 0 weeks (baseline), 12 weeks (end) ]

There will be improvement of moderate palmar arsenical keratosis following supplementation with vitamin E


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dates:
Date Received: January 27, 2015
Date Started: March 2015
Date Completion:
Last Updated: January 12, 2016
Last Verified: January 2016