Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 108, Issue 7 , Pages 560-569, July 2009

Alterations in Oxidative Stress Status During Early Alcohol Withdrawal in Alcoholic Patients

  • Ming-Chyi Huang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Taipei City Psychiatric Center, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chun-Hsin Chen

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Medical University-Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Fu-Chuo Peng

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Toxicology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Sheng-Hui Tang

      Affiliations

    • Toxic Center, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chiao-Chicy Chen

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychiatry, Taipei City Psychiatric Center, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Professor Chiao-Chicy Chen, Department of Psychiatry, Taipei City Psychiatric Center, Taipei City Hospital, 309 Song-De Road, Xing-Yi District, Taipei 100, Taiwan

Received 27 May 2008; received in revised form 20 July 2008; accepted 30 December 2008.

Article Outline

Background/Purpose

Alcohol-induced oxidative stress is the result of the combined production of reactive oxygen species [ROS; e.g. malondialdehyde (MDA), an index of lipid peroxidation] and impairment of antioxidant defenses [e.g. superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), which are involved in the elimination of ROS]. Little is known about the oxidative stress markers among patients with alcohol dependence in Taiwan. This study aimed to investigate serial alterations of various oxidative stress markers during early detoxification in alcoholic patients.

Methods

We enrolled 121 inpatients who fulfilled the DSM-IV-TR criteria for alcohol dependence, and 19 healthy controls. Fasting serum MDA level and antioxidant activity, including SOD, CAT and GPX, were measured at baseline in both groups, and after 1 and 2 weeks of detoxification in alcoholic patients.

Results

MDA level in alcoholics was higher at baseline than in healthy controls. It decreased after 1 week of detoxification, and normalized at week 2. SOD and GPX activities remained significantly lower throughout the 2-week period. CAT activity in alcoholics was comparable to that in the controls at baseline, but decreased at week 1 of detoxification, and was significantly lower than that in the controls after 2 weeks. Moreover, baseline MDA level was correlated with baseline CAT activity in alcoholics; the magnitude of the decrease in MDA level was correlated with the decrease in CAT activity following the 1-week detoxification.

Conclusion

The findings suggest severe oxidative stress and weakened antioxidant activity in alcoholic patients, and limited changes in oxidative stress in the early stages of alcohol withdrawal.

Key Words:  alcoholism , alcohol detoxification , alcohol withdrawal , malondialdehyde , oxidative stress

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PII: S0929-6646(09)60374-0

doi:10.1016/S0929-6646(09)60374-0

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 108, Issue 7 , Pages 560-569, July 2009

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