Urinary dolichol--a new marker of alcoholism.

Urinary dolichol levels of 31 skid-row alcoholics and 49 alcoholics entering a detoxification unit were compared to those of 51 nonalcoholic controls (social drinkers). The mean urinary dolichol content as related to urinary creatinine was significantly (p less than 0.001) higher in the two groups of alcoholics than in the controls. In this material the sensitivity of increased urinary dolichol in the detection of alcoholism was 68% as compared to 44% sensitivity of serum gamma-glutamyltransferase. The percentage of false-positives in the control group was 3.9%. Urinary dolichol is suggested as a potential tool for the detection and follow-up of alcohol abuse.