Increased free-radical activity in alcoholics.
The identification of the main dieneconjugated "free-radical marker" in human serum led to a study of free-radical activity in chronic alcoholics. 66 patients were investigated immediately after alcohol withdrawal and over 1-4 weeks' follow-up. The control groups were 76 normal subjects, 78 patients with liver disease, 30 patients on long-term antiepileptic drug treatment, 9 pregnant women, and 99 unselected hospital patients. 82% of chronic alcoholics had a significantly higher than normal level of phospholipid-esterified 9,11 linoleicacid isomer in blood collected within 24 h of their last alcoholic drink. The levels fell to normal over the next 2-4 days but continued to decline within the normal range for 2-3 weeks. There was no rise in the level of the isomer in normal controls after an acute alcohol load. The results suggest that chronic alcoholism may induce a specific detoxifying mechanism which is activated by alcohol and which entails or depends on greatly increased free-radical activity.
Fink
R
R
Clemens
M R
MR
Marjot
D H
DH
Patsalos
P
P
Cawood
P
P
Norden
A G
AG
Iversen
S A
SA
Dormandy
T L
TL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005609:Free Radicals; D006801:Humans; D007536:Isomerism; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D005609:Free Radicals; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D010743:Phospholipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D000431:Ethanol; D002784:Cholesterol; D019787:Linoleic Acid