J Korean Soc Biol Psychiatry.  1998 Nov;5(2):235-242.

The Relationship between Lipid Peroxidation of Red Blood Cell Membrane, and Mean Corpuscular Volume and Liver Enzyme Markers in Alcohol Dependence Patients

• Jeong SY
• Choi IG
• Suh GH
• Kang HJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Alcohol-induced oxidative stress has been known to injure various tissues or organs. This stress is related with free radicals which are produced as the result of long-term alcohol consumption. Malonyldialdehyde(MDA) is produced by the interaction of free radicals and cell membrane lipids, and indicates the degree of lipid peroxidation indirectly. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between red blood cell(RBC) membrane lipid peroxidation by free radicals, and associated hepatic injuries and hematologic changes.
METHODS
Thirty-three subjects diagnosed as alcohol dependence according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria were evaluated within 72 hours after discontinuing alcohol drinking. Clinical characteristics were evaluated by CAGE questionnaire and Korean Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test(MAST). RBC membrane MDA level was measured as the marker of RBC membrane lipid peroxidation. Aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase(GGT) were used as the biochemical markers of liver damage due to alcohol ingestion. The alcohol-induced hematologic change was assessed by mean corpuscular volume(MCV).
RESULTS
The results were as follows. Clinical characteristics were not different between two groups having normal and abnormal levels of AST, ALT, GGT or MCV. The levels of MDA were not correlated with the clinical characteristics and serum levels of AST, ALT and GGT. However, there was a significant correlation between the levels of MDA and the value of MCV(p=0.017).
CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that oxidative stress in alcohol dependence may not be reflected in liver enzyme markers such as AST, ALT and GGT, but may be reflected in MCV.

MeSH Terms

Alanine
Alcohol Drinking
Alcoholism*
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Aspartic Acid
Biological Markers
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Eating
Erythrocyte Indices*
Erythrocytes*
Free Radicals
Humans
Lipid Peroxidation*
Liver*
Mass Screening
Membrane Lipids
Membranes*
Michigan
Oxidative Stress
Surveys and Questionnaires
Alanine
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Aspartic Acid
Biological Markers
Free Radicals
Membrane Lipids