POLYENYLPHOSPHATIDYLCHOLINE DECREASES ALCOHOL-INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS IN THE BABOON

Diets supplemented with polyunsaturated fatty acids or triglycerides e xacerbate alcohol-induced liver injury in rats, whereas, in baboons, p olyenylphosphatidylcholine (PPC) protects against alcohol-induced fibr osis and cirrhosis. Because the aggravation in rats was attributed to enhanced lipid peroxidation, the present study was undertaken to asses s parameters of oxidative stress in percutaneous liver biopsies of bab oons fed alcohol, with or without PPC (2.8 g per 1000 calories). F-2-i soprostanes and 4-hydroxynonenal, breakdown products of lipid peroxida tion, were determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and alp ha-tocopherol was measured by HPLC with electrochemical detection. Hep atic 4-hydroxynonenal was significantly increased in animals fed alcoh ol, but this was fully prevented by PPC. F-2-isoprostanes were also si gnificantly lower after PPC and ethanol than after ethanol alone, and the alcohol-induced glutathione decrease was attenuated, All of these parameters were normal in the animals withdrawn from alcohol, even wit h persistence of significant liver disease. Because peroxidation produ cts are fibrogenic, their decrease could contribute to the antifibroge nic property of the phospholipids, In conclusion, PPC significantly at tenuates ethanol-induced oxidative stress, which may explain, at least in part, its protective effect against alcoholic liver injury.