No abstract

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12291-011-0121-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Alcohol induced oxidative stress is linked to the metabolism of ethanol. In this study it has been observed that administration of ethanol in lower concentration caused gain in body and liver weight. while higher concentration of ethanol caused lesser gain in body and liver weight. Ethanol treatment enhanced lipid peroxidation significantly, depletion in levels of hepatic glutathione and ascorbate, accompanied by a decline in the activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase, and increased in hepatic glutathione s-transferase activity. Interestingly catalase activity increases in lower concentration of ethanol exposure, and decreased in higher concentration. Superoxide dismutase activity was also increased on ethanol exposure. But, ethanol feeding did not show any effect on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. Ethanol ingestion perturbs the antioxidant system in a dose and time dependent manner.

A variety of laboratory tests are available to assist in the diagnosis of alcohol consumption and related disorders. The levels of intake at which laboratory results become abnormal vary from person to person. Laboratory tests are particularly useful in settings where cooperativeness is suspected orwhen a history is not available. Several biochemical and hematological tests, such as T-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity, highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) content of serum, and erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume (MCV) are established markers of alcohol intake. Their validity as markers is based largely on correlations with recent intake at a single time point and on decreases in elevated values when heavy drinkers abstain from alcohol. These readily available laboratory tests provide important prognostic information and should be integral part of the assessment of persons with hazardous alcohol consumption. There are several other markers with considerable potential for more accurate reflection of recent alcohol intake. These include carbohydrate deficient transferrin, ~-hexosaminidase, acetaldehyde adducts and the urinary ratio of serotonin metabolites, 5-hydroxytryptophol and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. These markers provide hope for more sensitive and s.pecific aids to diagnosis and improved monitoring for intake.