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TNF-α is associated with low phase angle in male patients with chronic hepatitis C

Thais Pontello de Vries1, Aline Marcos Pires1, Fernanda Gomes Camilo2

  • 1Sciences Applied to Adult Health Care Post-Graduate Programme, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Outpatient Clinic of Viral Hepatitis, Instituto Alfa de Gastroenterologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)
|August 4, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Phase angle (PhA) may indicate systemic inflammation in male chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. Lower PhA correlates with higher tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels, suggesting PhA

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology and Immunology
  • Biomarker Discovery
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • The role of Phase angle (PhA) as a systemic inflammation biomarker in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is not well understood.
  • Identifying reliable biomarkers for inflammation and nutritional status in CHC is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between PhA values and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in CHC patients.
  • To explore correlations between PhA and demographic, clinical, nutritional, and biochemical factors in CHC.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study of 81 CHC patients (mean age 50.0 ± 11.7 years).
  • Body composition assessed via anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA).
  • Serum TNF-α measured by ELISA; logistic regression used for analysis.

Main Results:

  • Reduced PhA was found in 14.8% of CHC patients.
  • In male patients, reduced PhA was independently linked to elevated TNF-α levels (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.06-1.39).
  • No significant association between PhA and TNF-α was observed in female patients.

Conclusions:

  • Lower PhA values in male CHC patients are associated with elevated TNF-α levels, irrespective of liver disease severity.
  • PhA shows potential as a practical screening tool for systemic inflammation and nutritional risk in CHC.
  • Integrating PhA assessment into routine care could benefit healthcare settings for CHC patients.
Abstract

Keywords:
Bioelectrical impedance analysisChronic hepatitis CInflammationNutritional assessmentPhase angleTumour necrosis factor alpha

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