Oxidative damage in alcoholic liver disease

Objective The metabolic effects of alcohol are due both to its direct actio n and to that of its first metabolite, and can also be connected with the c hanges in redox state. Differences in ethanol distribution, bioavailability and hepatic metabolism can provide insight into the protective and predisp osing factors in alcoholism, as well as gender differences of alcohol toxic ity, Oxidative stress occurs following various conditions of ethanol consum ption. Design Twenty-six Caucasian patients with alcoholism and 32 healthy, abstin ent controls of both sexes were investigated with special regard to reducti on-oxidation status and ad hoc free-radical-antioxidant balance. Method Plasma free SH-group concentration, H-donating ability, and reducing power property were measured by simple spectrophotometric methods. Total s cavenger capacity was determined by a newly developed chemiluminometric met hod in plasma and erythrocytes, Results Alcoholics showed a decrease of free SH-group concentration, hydrog en-donating ability and an increase of reducing power property in plasma, A decreased total scavenger capacity of erythrocytes and plasma of alcoholic patients, combined with gender differences, could be detected. Conclusions Alcoholic dependence causes gradual exhaustion of the antioxida nt capacity of erythrocytes, therefore this non-invasive measurement may be useful as a follow-up of the evolution of alcoholic liver disease. The res ults also suggest a gender susceptibility of alcohol toxicity. Eur J Gastro enterol Hepatol 13:49-53 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.