Lipid Peroxidation in Alcoholic Liver Disease in Humans

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Abstract
The lipoperoxide level in liver as well as serum in alcoholic patients was measured by using the thiobar-bituric acid method. Heavy drinkers with deposition of fat in liver had a significantly (p < 0.001) higher level of hepatic lipoperoxide examined in about 7 days after abstinence than did nonalcoholic individuals with histologically normal liver. Of these heavy drinkers, cases with a remarkably high level of liver lipoperoxide showed a high incidence of hepatic cell necrosis. The hepatic lipoperoxide level was correlated with the serum lipoperoxide level in these heavy drinkers (r = 0.750, p < 0.001). In chronic alcoholics, high levels of serum lipoperoxide were usually observed on admission, and a significant positive correlation was found between the serum lipoperoxide level and serum GOT activity (r – 0.541, p < 0.01). After a 2-wk abstinence, the levels of serum lipoperoxide decreased, which was associated with improvement of liver function tests. These results suggest a possible involvement of lipid peroxidation in alcohol-induced liver damage in humans.