Different effects of smoking or use of smokeless tobacco on platelet MAO-B activity in type 1 alcohol-dependent subjects.
BACKGROUND
Low platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO)-B activity has been proposed as a marker for alcohol-dependence. Findings are, however, contradictory and the influence of confounding factors have been thoroughly investigated. Thus, it is now well established that cigarette smoking reduces platelet MAO-activity. However, not much is known about the influence of smokeless tobacco, i.e. snuff or chewing tobacco, on platelet MAO-B activity. The aim of the present study was to compare platelet MAO-B activity in type 1 alcohol-dependent subjects with concomitant use of smokeless tobacco (i.e. snuff users), use of smoking tobacco (i.e. cigarette smokers), and in those without any tobacco use.


METHODS
Platelet MAO-B activity was examined in three groups of alcohol-dependent subjects: snuff users (n = 14), cigarette smokers (n = 33), and non-tobacco users (N = 46).


RESULTS
In the alcohol-dependent subjects concomitant cigarette smokers, but not snuff users, were found to have significantly lower platelet MAO-B activity as compared to non-tobacco users (platelet MAO-B activity 4.0 +/- 1.5, 5.1 +/- 1.5 and 5.0 +/- 1.9 microkat/kg protein, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings in the present study suggests that in the alcohol-dependent subjects the concomitant use of smokeless tobacco, i.e. snuffing, does not have an inhibitory effect on platelet MAO-B activity. This may have implications for future research. Thus, alcohol-dependent subjects with concomitant tobacco use should be grouped separately according to the form of the tobacco used, i.e. smoking or smokeless tobacco.
Berggren
Ulf
U
Institute of Neuroscience and Pysiology, Göteborg University, P. O. Box 500, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden.
Eriksson
Matts
M
Fahlke
Claudia
C
Blennow
Kaj
K
Balldin
Jan
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless / Q000009:adverse effects*
D008995:Monoamine Oxidase