Plasma beta-endorphin levels in chronic alcoholics.
In order to test the possible relationship between the chronic consumption of alcohol and the opioid system, we have measured the plasma levels of beta-endorphin in a group of 31 alcoholic patients and compared the results with those of a control group of 16 subjects. Our results show that chronic consumption of alcohol induces a significant decrease in beta-endorphin (beta-end) plasma levels regardless of either the disease suffered by the alcoholic patient or of the time of abstinence studied (one month maximum). Thus we believe that the beta-end decrease may well be due to the patients' alcoholism and that it might be mediated by the tetrahydroisoquinoline system, or be a cause of alcoholism rather than a consequence.
Aguirre
J C
JC
Department of Medicine, Hospital Universitario San Cecilio, Facultad de Medicina, Granada, Spain.
Del Arbol
J L
JL
Raya
J
J
Ruiz-Requena
M E
ME
Rico Irles
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000097:blood; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood*
D001615:beta-Endorphin