Increased lipid and protein oxidation and DNA damage in patients with chronic alcoholism

Increased oxidative stress has been speculated to be one possible mechanism of ethanol toxicity. This study evaluates malondialdehyde (MDA) and protei n carbonyl content in serum as markers of oxidative stress and DNA damage i n lymphocytes in the same patients with chronic alcoholism. Patients with c hronic alcoholism showed a significant increase in MDA levels and protein c arbonyl content of their serum as compared with non-alcoholic control subje cts. Increases in endogenous and H2O2-induced DNA damage were also observed in lymphocytes of patients with chronic alcoholism. In addition, there wer e significant correlations between endogenous and H2O2-induced DNA damage a nd serum MDA or protein carbonyl content in patients with chronic alcoholis m. These results clearly indicate the presence of oxidative stress in patie nts with chronic alcoholism.