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Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry logoLink to Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry
. 2005 Jul;20(2):24–28. doi: 10.1007/BF02867396

Monitoring oxidative stress in patients with non-alcoholic and alcoholic liver diseases

Subir Kumar Das 1,✉, D M Vasudevan 1
PMCID: PMC3453846  PMID: 23105529

Abstract

Ethanol-induced liver injury may be linked, at least partly, to an oxidative stress resulting from increased free radical production and/or decreased antioxidant defence. Distinguishing alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver disease has important implications. This study looked at the possible changes between alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver diseases by examining the presence of oxidative damage, as monitored by several parameters relating to oxidative stress. Lipid peroxides concentration, superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione S-transferase activity increased, where as glutathione content, glutathione peroxidase activity and glutathione reductase activity decreased among the tested subjects in comparison to normal healthy group. Determination of these parameters may be valuable in the evaluation of liver disease. However, oxidative stress related enzymes and non-enzymes can not be utilized as a marker for alcoholic liver diseases, as these parameters responded in the same way after liver is damaged irrespective of their cause. Their level may help in determining the degree of liver damage. Degree of oxidative injury was similar in patients with non-alcoholic liver disease and in moderate drinkers; while significantly higher in heavy drinkers. The differences between the groups might be based on the type of liver pathological condition rather than its etiology (i.e. alcohol and non alcohol related causes).

Key Words: Alcohol, Oxidative stress, Glutathione, Superoxide dismutase, Lipid peroxide

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