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| Year : 1996 | Volume
: 38
| Issue : 1 | Page : 38-42 |
Erythrocyte Aldehyde Dehydrogenase - A Potential Marker for Alcohol Dependence
Pratitna Murthy1, SC Guru2, SM Channabasavanna1, DK Subbakrishna2, Taranath Shetty2
1 Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and NeuroSciences, Bangalore - 560 029, India
2 Department of Neurochemistry, National Institute of Mental Health and NeuroSciences, Bangalore - 560 029, India
Correspondence Address:
Pratitna Murthy
Assistant Professor, Department of psychiatry, NIMHANS, Bangalore - 506 029Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and NeuroSciences, Bangalore - 560 029
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
PMID: 21584116 
The present study explored the utility of erythrocyte aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) as a peripheral marker in alcoholism. The ALDH levels in aocoholics, their first degree nonalcholic relative and controls were compared. ALDH was found to be significantly lower in alcoholics (3.381.70 mU p<0.001) and their first degree relatives (4.041.55 mU p<0.05) compared to controls (5.061 55mU). Low ALDH levels among alcoholics persisted despite abstinence. The levels did not correlate with indices of hepatic dysfunction or with severity of alcoholism. These findings indicate that low erythrocyte ALDH may be considered as a biochemical trait marker associated with alcoholics, and the alcohol abuse would further decrease enzyme activitiy. To evaluate this proposition, logitudinal studies involving high risk progeny of alcohol dependents is being planned.
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