Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2001 Jul; 21(7): 507-9.

[Perspective study on effect of gandou tablet I on biliary trace elements in treating hepatolenticular degeneration]

Hu WB, Yang RM.

Institute of Neurology, Anhui College of TCM, Hefei 230031.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of gandou tablet I (GDI), a Chinese herbal recipe, on the content of biliary trace elements in hepatolenticular degeneration(HLD) patients. METHODS: Before and after 4 weeks treatment by oral taken GDI, bile of 32 cases of HLD were collected by duodenal drainage for determining biliary trace elements, including copper, zinc, iron and calcium, by spectrophotometer of atom absorption spectrum, and compared with those of 30 cases of non-HLD patients as the control. RESULTS: The contents of copper, iron and copper/zinc ratio were obviously lower, while the content of calcium greatly higher (P < 0.01), in the HLD group before GDI treatment than those in the control (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), but the content of zinc was not significantly different between the two groups. The output of biliary copper after GDI treatment was significantly increased compared with that before treatment (P < 0.05), but the contents of zinc, iron, calcium and copper/zinc ratio were not markedly changed. CONCLUSION: The impediment to output of biliary copper was one of the mechanisms for copper storage in body of HLD patients. GDI could promote excretion of biliary copper in the HLD patients.