Abstinence-induced oxidative stress in moderate drinkers is improved by bionormalizer.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this investigation was to study the oxidative phenomena which take place in the early recovery phase after alcohol withdrawal. Furthermore, the effects of a novel natural antioxidant, Bionormalizer (BN), in such a clinical setting was studied.


METHODS
Forty-six alcoholics with moderate drinking habits (daily ethanol intake: > 80g to < 120g) were enrolled in the study, divided into two groups and given either a placebo or 9g of BN by mouth every night for one week. The patients agreed to stop drinking alcohol, and daily blood sampling was obtained for routine tests and to check plasma and erythrocyte levels of MDA, SOD, GPX and the hydroperoxide level. The groups were comparable in terms of initial biochemical parameters.


RESULTS
BN prevented the early increase of plasma TBARS observed in the placebo group, enabling a near-to-normal level of plasma and erythrocyte MDA by the fourth day. BN also prevented the significant drop of erythrocyte GPX and the transient decrease of plasma SOD observed in the placebo group. Despite alcohol withdrawal, plasma lipid hydroperoxide remained significantly elevated in the placebo group, but this phenomenon was rapidly improved by BN.


CONCLUSIONS
To a significant extent, BN is able to prevent the free radical-mediated lipoperoxidative changes that occur soon after alcohol withdrawal, while fastening the recovery mechanisms.
Marotta
F
F
Gastroenterology Service, S. Anna Hospital, Como, Italy.
Reizakovic
I
I
Tajiri
H
H
Safran
P
P
Ideo
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D058870:Food, Organic; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D000431:Ethanol