Abstract
While the exact relevance of the oxidative stress markers after the complex processes of alcohol withdrawal is still controversial, in the present report we were interested in studying the relevance of oxidative stress status in the alcohol withdrawal processes, by determining some oxidative stress markers after 3, 6 and 12 months of abstinence. 62 patients were selected, all of them males. Thus, 33 (baseline), 14 (3 months), 14 (6 months) and 15 (12 months) patients, while the control group (n=32) included healthy, sex and aged-matched subjects. Regarding superoxid dismutase, we observed a significant group difference (p<0.0001), together with an increase in all 3 cases of time-abstinence, as compared to baseline results: (p<0.0001-3 months), (p<0.0001-6 months) and (p<0.0001- 12 months). Also for glutathione peroxidase, we observed a significant overall effect of the abstinence in our groups (p=0.0003), plus an increase especially at 6 months (p=0.03) and 12 months (p=0.006). Regarding malondialdehyde, as a main marker for the lipid peroxidation processes, we found significant differences between our groups (p<0.0001), together with a decrease in all 3 cases, compared to the baseline group (p=0.003), (p=0.01) and (p=0.0002). In conclusion, this confirms the increased oxidative stress status in alcoholic patients and even more importantly, we showed that there is a significant and progressive decrease in the oxidative stress status at 3, 6 and 12 months after the withdrawal process, as demonstrated by the increased levels of antioxidant enzymes and decreased rate of lipid peroxidation, when compared to baseline values.