Increased concentrations of manganese superoxide dismutase in serum of alcohol-dependent patients.

Oxidative stress-associated parameters [concentrations of lactoferrin, Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Mn-SOD] were determined in sera of 20 patients suffering from alcohol dependence immediately after detoxification and in 15 non-dependent healthy subjects as controls. In the patient group, the mean Mn-SOD concentration reached almost double the values of those from the control group (142.9 vs 76.0 ng/ml, P < 0.01). The other parameters tended to be increased in patients, but did not differ significantly between index and control groups. The findings are consistent with increased oxidative stress due to chronic alcohol intake, which might be responsible for secondary diseases such as brain atrophy, peripheral polyneuropathy and liver fibrinogenesis.