title: Diminished serum concentration of vitamin E in alcoholics.
abstract: The effect of heavy alcohol consumption on serum concentrations of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) and selenium was studied in 13 alcoholics and 19 control subjects. Ethanol intake during the year previous to the study was in the range from 22 to 354 g/day and from 0 to 16 g/day among the alcoholics and controls, respectively. Of the 13 alcoholics, 6 had a serum concentration of alpha-tocopherol below the lower limit of reference (14 mumol/l) and mean serum concentration of alpha-tocopherol was reduced by 37% as compared to controls (p less than 0.002). Estimated dietary intake of alpha-tocopherol during the year previous to the study was approximately 40% lower for the alcoholics (p less than 0.05). During hard-drinking periods the alcoholics had a markedly reduced intake of alpha-tocopherol as compared to moderate-drinking and abstinent periods. Mean serum concentration of selenium was significantly reduced in the alcoholics (1.2 +/- 0.3 mumol/l) as compared to the controls (1.6 +/- 0.2 mumol/l) (p less than 0.002). The reduced serum levels of alpha-tocopherol and selenium may influence the maintenance of normal cell structure and function, and contribute to development of diseases frequently observed in alcoholics.
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: 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 / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014810:Vitamin E; D003300:Copper; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc; D002112:Calcifediol