3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) abuse may cause oxidative stress and potential free radical damage.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine abuse (MDMA abuse) may cause oxidative stress and potential free radical damage in the bodies of MDMA abusers (MA), and to explore the mechanisms by which MDMA abuse may be causing oxidative stress.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty MA and 120 healthy volunteers (HV) were enrolled in a random control study design, in which the level of lipoperoxide (LPO) in erythrocytes, and the levels of Vitamin C (VC), Vitamin E (VE) and beta-carotene (beta-CAR) in plasma as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in erythrocytes were determined by spectrophotometric methods.


RESULTS
Compared with the average values of the above biochemical parameters in the HV group, the average value of LPO in erythrocytes in the MA group was significantly increased (P < 0.0001), while the average values of VC, VE and beta-CAR in plasma as well as those of SOD and CAT in erythrocytes in the MA group were significantly decreased (P < 0.0001). The analysis of bivariate correlations suggested that with the increase of the MDMA abuse dose and the MDMA abuse duration, the level of LPO in erythrocytes in the MA was increased (P < 0.0001), while the levels of VC, VE and beta-CAR in plasma as well as the activities of SOD and CAT in erythrocytes in the MA were decreased (P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings in this study suggest that MDMA abuse may cause oxidative stress and potential free radical damage to MA.
Zhou
Jun F
JF
Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China. hzzjf@hotmail.com
Chen
Peng
P
Zhou
Ye H
YH
Zhang
Liang
L
Chen
Huai H
HH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013053:Spectrophotometry / Q000379:methods; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood
D005609:Free Radicals; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D019207:beta Carotene; D014810:Vitamin E; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D001205:Ascorbic Acid