Antioxidant status and zinc levels in alcoholic liver disease

The liver is susceptible to alcohol-related injury because it is the primary site of alcohol metabolism. Ethanol intake depletes anti-oxidant pool of the body and increases the oxidative stress on liver. Increased oxidative stress may result from over production of precursors to reactive oxygen radicals and/or decreased efficiency of inhibitory and scavenging systems. Antioxidant functions as blockers of radical processes before they can damage various biomolecules or prevent oxidative damage from spreading out the effect. Present study included 60 patients of alcoholic liver disease with deranged liver function tests admitted in Goa Medical College Hospital during the period of November 2003 to October 2004. Twenty healthy age and sex matched subjects served as controls. Study comprised of estimation of Biochemical parameters like Plasma Zinc, serum Malondialdehyde (M.D.A.), Blood Glutathione, serum Vitamin E, Plasma Vitamin C and Plasma Vitamin A (special ones) with routine parameters like. Serum Bilirubin; SGOT, SGPT, Total proteins, A/G ratio, Blood Glucose, Serum Cholesterol, Serum Alkaline Phosphatase and Prothrombin time. All the patients in study group and controls were aged between 25-65 yrs.