Some aspects of antioxidant status in blood from alcoholics.

The effect of ethanol consumption on serum concentration of alpha-tocopherol, erythrocyte activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase were studied in 34 male alcoholics and 35 age-matched controls. Serum concentration of alpha-tocopherol was 30% lower in the alcoholics as compared to the controls (p less than 0.001).

Diminished serum concentration of vitamin E in alcoholics.

The effect of heavy alcohol consumption on serum concentrations of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) and selenium was studied in 13 alcoholics and 19 control subjects. Ethanol intake during the year previous to the study was in the range from 22 to 354 g/day and from 0 to 16 g/day among the alcoholics and controls, respectively. Of the 13 alcoholics, 6 had a serum concentration of alpha-tocopherol below the lower limit of reference (14 mumol/l) and mean serum concentration of alpha-tocopherol was reduced by 37% as compared to controls (p less than 0.

Plasma-HDL-cholesterol and estimated ethanol consumption in 104 patients with alcohol dependence syndrome.

Plasma-HDL-cholesterol levels were determined in 104 patients (92 males and 12 females) with a mean age of 43 years (range 20-70 years). All were admitted to a clinic for alcoholics and had a mean drinking history of 13 years with a mean consumption of 48.2 l of pure ethanol per year.

Folate and vitamin B12 (cobalamin) blood levels in elderly persons in geriatric homes.

Significantly lower mean plasma and whole blood folate levels were noted in elderly persons in geriatric homes as compared to mean values of a reference sample group. The vitamin B12 levels of the elderly persons did not differ significantly from the reference values. More elderly, however, had low B12 values when assayed with a specific binder than when assayed with a non-specific binder.