title: HPLC determination of malondialdehyde as biomarker for oxidative stress: application in patients with alcohol dependence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic and excess ethanol exposure causes an increase in generation of free radicals which attack the polyunsaturated fatty acids in membranes to create lipid peroxides such as malondialdehyde (MDA) which is widely used as an indirect biomarker of oxidative stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study a sensitive and reproducible high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for measurement of MDA was applied in a group of alcohol dependent patients who underwent detoxification treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to the control group, mean MDA concentrations at baseline were significantly higher in alcohol dependent patients (1.28 +/- 0.58 microM vs. 0.9 +/- 0.21 microM; p < 0.02). However, MDA levels remained almost unchanged after three weeks of detoxification treatment (1.28 +/- 0.58 microM vs. 1.38 +/- 0.61 microM; p > 0.05). Among alcoholic patients, the MDA plasma concentration in smokers was higher than in non smokers both at baseline and after three weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The failure to reduce the levels of MDA after 3 weeks of detoxification treatment suggests that patients with chronic alcohol dependence have difficulty in compensating for alcohol-induced excessive production of free radicals. Furthermore, the possibility of cigarette smoke affecting the MDA plasma concentration cannot be ruled out.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, University of Genoa, Italy. carmen74@email.it
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fucile
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Maria Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Zuccoli
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Robbiano
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martelli
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mattioli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008315:Malondialdehyde