title: Reduced plasma levels of asymmetric di-methylarginine (ADMA) in patients with alcohol dependence normalize during withdrawal.
abstract: Asymmetric di-methylarginine, an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, is increasingly recognized as vascular risk factor. Elevated ADMA levels have been described not only in 'typical' vascular diseases like congestive heart failure, artherosclerosis and diabetes but also for major depression and Alzheimer's disease. As homocysteine increases ADMA levels and elevated homocysteine serum levels are present in patients with alcohol dependence, the aim of the present study was to examine plasma ADMA levels in patients with alcohol dependence during withdrawal. ADMA and homocysteine levels were measured in the plasma from 42 patients drawn at baseline, on day 1, day 3 and day 7-10 of inpatient detoxification treatment. Measurements were compared against 32 healthy controls. We found significantly lower levels of ADMA in patients at baseline and on day 1 and 3, while no differences were present at the end of treatment. Plasma ADMA levels significantly increased during withdrawal. We found no association between homocysteine and ADMA levels. Our finding of reduced ADMA levels in actively drinking alcohol dependent patients is in apparent contrast to other findings regarding cardiovascular risk factors in alcoholism. However an influence of alcohol on arginine metabolism may help explain the so called 'French paradox'.
authors.affiliation: Center for Addiction Research (CARe), Department of Psychiatry, Socialpsychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany. frieling.helge@mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Frieling
authors.forename: Viktoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leitmeier
authors.forename: Mani
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haschemi-Nassab
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kornhuber
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rhein
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bleich
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hillemacher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase