title: Elevated oleic acid serum concentrations in patients suffering from alcohol dependence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alcohol-induced damages such as brain atrophy and fatty liver are closely related to a disturbed lipid metabolism. In animal models, a linkage between chronic alcohol consumption and changes in fatty acid (FA) composition in various organs and cells is well known and there is some indication that this phenomenon could be linked to behavioural alterations associated with alcohol addiction such as craving. However, the influence of ethanol on secretory FA has not been investigated so far. In this study, we therefore aimed at investigating whether there is a significant change of serum FA composition in patients suffering from alcohol dependence. We compared patients before and after treatment (detoxication) with control individuals who did not suffer from addiction. The roles of age, the duration and intensity of alcohol use and lifestyles were considered.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum FA was measured in 73 male ethanol dependent patients before and after alcohol withdrawal in an in-patient setting. Additionally, of this group, 45 patients were matched with 45 healthy male volunteers as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found significant differences in the FA composition before and after detoxication as well as between patients and controls. After detoxication, the values changed towards the ones in healthy controls. The main finding during acute alcohol use was an increased oleic acid concentration above the level of the linoleic acid concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An elevated oleic/linoleic acid ratio seems to be a state marker for acute alcohol use and may be a relevant trait marker during detoxification and possibly the subsequent therapeutic measures. The results of this pilot study need to be replicated in a larger study also including female patients. Further, the specificity of this potential biomarker needs to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Clinic and Policlinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Rostock, Gehlsheimerstr. 20, 18147 Rostock, Germany ; Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Rostock, St.-Georg-Str. 108, 18055 Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Annekatrin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teubert
authors.affiliation: Clinic and Policlinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Rostock, Gehlsheimerstr. 20, 18147 Rostock, Germany ; College of Medicine, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP UK.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thome
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Rostock, St.-Georg-Str. 108, 18055 Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Büttner
authors.affiliation: Norway Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Eastern and Southern Norway, P.O. Box 4623, Oslo, 0405 Norway.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.affiliation: Clinic and Policlinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Rostock, Gehlsheimerstr. 20, 18147 Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Irmisch