Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biochemical diagnosis of alcoholism

  • Published:
Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Medically diagnosed alcoholics can be differentiated reliably from non-alcoholics using clinically laboratory tests. In the present study, patients with liver diseases either due to alcohol or without alcohol compared with a group of normal healthy persons. Heavy drinkers showed significantly lower body weight and percent body fat, and low BMI compared with other groups. The percentage of hemoglobin and total number of RBC were found to be significantly decreased, whereas mean corpuscular volume (MCV) significantly increased in alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Hyperbilirubinemia, hyperuricemia and hypoalbuminemia correlate with alcohol intake. Albumin/globulin ratio significantly decreased in ALD. In acute liver injury AST/ALT ratio is ≤1.0, whereas in alcoholic hepatitis it is always >1.0. Moderately elevated level of ALP and high GGT values are good discriminator of alcoholic patients. Alcohol-induced liver injury is linked to oxidative stress as observed by decreased level of reduced glutathione and ascorbic acid, and increased level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gyatso, TR., Bagdas, BB; (1998) In: Health Status In Sikkim. (Dept. of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of Sikkim).

  2. Nevins, C.L.; Malaty, H.; Velez, M.E.; Anand, B.S. (1999) Interaction of alcohol and hepatitis C virus infection on severity of liver disease. Dig Dis and Sci, 1236–1242.

  3. Bellentani, S., Saccocio, G., Masutti, F., Giacca, M., Miglioli, L., Monzoni, A., Tiribelli, C.; (2000) Risk factors for alcoholic liver disease. Addiction Biology, 5(3), 261–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Fickert, P., Zatloukal, K., (2000) Pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease. In: Handbook of Alcoholism (Eds. G. Zemig, A. Saria, M. Kurz, and S.S. O’Malley) Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 317–323.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Das SK, Nayak P, Vasudevan DM (2003) Biochemical markers of alcohol consumption. Ind J Clin Biochem. 18(2), 111–118.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Chalmers DM, Grinsler MG, MacDermott S, Spicer CC, Levi AJ (1981) Biochemical and haematological indicators of excessive alcohol consumption. Gut, 22, 992–996.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Paton A (1994) Asking the right questions. In: ABC of Alcohol, Ed. A. Paton, BMJ Publishing Group, Tavistock square, London. p.14.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Foster DW (1992). Eating disorders: obesity, anorexia nervosa and Bullimina nervosa. In: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology; 8th Edn. W.B.Saunders (Eds. J.W. Wilson and D.W. Foster) p.1336.

  9. van Kampen EJ, Zijlstra WG (1965) Determination of hemoglobin and its derivatives. Adv Clin Chem, 8, 141–187.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Tiffany TO, Jansen JM, Burtis CA,et al (1972) Enzymatic kinetic rate and endpoint analysis of substrate by use of GEMSAEC fast analyzer. Clin Chem, 18, 829.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Larsen K (1972) Creatinine assay by a reaction kinetic principle. Clin Chem Acta, 41, 209.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Gochman N, Schmitz JM (1971) Automated determination of uric acid with use of a uricase-peroxidase system. Clin Chem, 17, 1154.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Jendrassik, L., Grof, P. (1938) Biochem Z, 297, 81.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Doumas BT, Peter T, Jr. (1997) Serum and urine albumin: a progress report on their measurement and clinical significance. Clin Chim Acta, 258, 3–20.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Kingsley GR (1942) The direct biuret method for the determination of serum proteins as applied to photoelectric and visual colorimetry. J Lab Clin Med, 27, 840–845.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Linhardt K, Walter K (1963). Phosphatase. In: Methods of Enzymatic Analysis (Ed. Bergmeyer HU) Academic Press, New York, p.799.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Bergmeyer HU, Bernt E (1963) Glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase; Glutamate pyruvate transaminase. In: Methods of Enzymatic Analysis (Ed. Bergmeyer HU) Academic Press, New York, pp.837–853.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Gowelock, A.H. (1988) In: Varley’s Practical Clinical Biochemistry. 6th edn. Heinemann Professional Publishing, p.519

  19. McCormick DB, Greene HL (1998). Vitamin. In: Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry. (Eds. CA Burtis and ER Ashwood) W.B. Saunders Company, USA. p.1025.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Sinnhuber RO, Yu TC, Yu TC (1958) Characterization of the red pigment formed in the thiobarbituric acid determination of oxidative rancidity. Food Res, 23, 626–630.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Beutler E, Duron O and Kelly BM (1963) Improved method for determination of blood glutathione. J Lab Clin Med, 61, 882–888.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Addolorato G, Capristo E, Greco AV, Stefanini GF, Gasbarrini G (1998) Influence of chronic alcohol abuse on body weight and energy metabolism: is excess ethanol consumption a risk factor for obesity or malnutrition? J Intern Med, 244(5), 387–395

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. World MJ, Ryle PR, Jones D, Shaw GK, Thomson AD (1984) Differential effect of chronic alcohol intake and poor nutrition on body weight and fat stores. Alcohol Alcohol, 19(4), 281–290

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Addolorato G, Capristo E, Marini M, Santini P, Scognamiglio U, Attilia ML, Messineo D, Sasso GF, Gasbarrini G, Ceccanti M. (2000) Body composition changes induced by chronic ethanol abuse: evaluation by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Am J Gastroenterol, 95(9), 2323–2327

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Nordmann R, Rouach H (1996) Alcohol and free radicals: from basic research to clinical prospects. Gastroenterol Hepatol, 32(3), 128–133.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Whitfield JB, Hensley WJ, Bryden D, Gallagher H (1978) Some laboratory correlates of drinking habits. Annals Clin Biochem, 15, 297–303.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Ahlgren A, Hedenborg G, Norman A, Wisen O. (1988) Serum bilirubin subfractions in patients with alcohol abuse during detoxication. Scand J Clin Lab Invest, 48(4), 319–26

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Annoni G, Arosio B, Santambrogio D, Gagliano N, Zem MA (1991) Albumin and procollagen type I gene regulation in alcohol and viral-induced human liver disease. Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 70(1–2), 391–397.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Oratz M, Rothschild MA, Schreiber SS (1976) Alcohol, amino acids, and albumin synthesis. II. Alcohol inhibition of albumin synthesis reversed by arginine and spermine. Gastroenterology; 71(1), 123–127.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Waern AU, Hellsing K (1980) Indices of alcohol intake. Comparison between serum concentrations of alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyltransferase in middle-aged men. Ups J Med Sci, 85(2), 159–163.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Schimdt E, Schimdt FW (1979) Enzyme diagnosis in diseases of the liver and biliary system. In: Advances in Clinical Enzymology. Vol.I. (Eds. E Schimdt, FW Schimdt, I Trautschold, R Friedel) Basel: Karger; pp. 232–292.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Nalpas B, Vassault A, LeGuillou A et al (1984) Serum activity of mitochondrial aspartate amino transferase: a sensitivity marker of alcoholism with or without alcoholic hepatitis. Hepatology, 4, 893–896.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Krastev Z, Mateva L, Danev S, Nikolov R (1992) clinical meaning of GGT activity in follow-up of patients with alcohol-related liver injury and cholestasis. Ital J Gastroenterol, 24(4), 185–187

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Rosalki S (1984) Identifying the alcoholic. In Clinical Biochemistry of Alcoholism, (Ed. Rosalki S) Churchill, Livingstone, Edinburgh 65–92.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Daeppen JB, Schoenfeld-Smith K, Smith TL, Schuckit MA. (1999) Characteristics of alcohol dependent subjects with very elevated levels of Gamma-Glutamyltransferase (GGT). J Stud Alcohol, 60(5), 589–594

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Chandra R, Aneja R, Rewal C, Konduri R, Dass SK, Agarwal S (2000) An opium alkaloid-Papaverine ameliorates ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity: diminution of oxidative stress. Ind J Clin Biochem, 15(2), 155–160.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Minor T, Isselhard W (1993) Role of the hepato vasculature in free radical mediated reperfusion damage of the liver. Eur Surg Res, 25(5), 287–293.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Videla LA, Iturriaga H, Pino ME, Bunout D, Valenzuela A, Ugarte G (1984) Content of hepatic reduced glutathione in chronic alcoholic patients: influence of the length of the abstinence and liver necrosis. Clin Sci, 66, 283–290.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, 682 026, Cochin, Kerala

    Subir Kumar Das & D. M. Vasudevan

Authors
  1. Subir Kumar Das
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. M. Vasudevan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Subir Kumar Das.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Das, S.K., Vasudevan, D.M. Biochemical diagnosis of alcoholism. Indian J Clin Biochem 20, 35–42 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02893039

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02893039

Key Words

Search

Navigation