title: Some aspects of antioxidant status in blood from alcoholics.
abstract: The effect of ethanol consumption on serum concentration of alpha-tocopherol, erythrocyte activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase were studied in 34 male alcoholics and 35 age-matched controls. Serum concentration of alpha-tocopherol was 30% lower in the alcoholics as compared to the controls (p less than 0.001). No significant difference was found in erythrocyte activities of Cu-Zn-containing superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, or catalase between the groups. Of the 12 alcoholics with subnormal serum alpha-tocopherol, 50% had concomitant neurological clinical scores and cerebellar atrophy, and their neurological scores were significantly higher (82%) than for alcoholics with normal alpha-tocopherol levels (p less than 0.03). However, no significant correlation was observed between levels of alpha-tocopherol and neurological clinical scores or cerebellar atrophy. When entering the study, alcoholics and controls were each randomized into two separate groups, receiving vitamin E supplementation (100 mg/day) or placebo capsules for 10 days, respectively. In the four subgroups, alpha-tocopherol levels increased only in alcoholics receiving vitamin E supplementation (23%) (p less than 0.001). The reduced serum levels of alpha-tocopherol in alcoholics may be normalized by vitamin E supplementation.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Forensic Toxicology, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Bjørneboe
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johnsen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bjørneboe
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Marklund
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Skylv
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Høiseth
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bache-Wiig
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mørland
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Drevon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000201:enzymology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood*; D024505:Tocopherols; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood*; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D014810:Vitamin E; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D024505:Tocopherols