Lack of changes in the concentration of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and in the activities of erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes in alcohol-dependent patients after detoxification

Chronic alcohol consumption induces an increase in oxidative stress. There are studies that indicate changes in the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the concentration of lipid peroxidation products in the blood of organisms as a result of alcohol consumption, but published results are somewhat conflicting. The aim was to study the effect of alcohol withdrawal and detoxification on the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) in erythrocytes and on the concentration of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in the erythrocytes and blood plasma of alcohol-dependent patients. The study group consisted of 42 alcohol-dependent men who underwent seven-day detoxification at an addiction treatment department. The control group consisted of 20 healthy male volunteers. Blood for analysis was taken from the antecubital vein before detoxification, after the first detoxification, and after several (> or =3) detoxifications. Before detoxification, the concentration of TBARS in the men's blood plasma was 40% higher (p