Hepatic lipid peroxidation and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity in alcoholic and non alcoholic liver disease

It has been suggested that lipid peroxidation plays a role in the pathogenesis of chronic alcoholic liver disease (CALD). However, whether or not CALD differs from chronic non alcoholic liver disease (CLD) in lipid peroxidation, is still questionable. Thirty-eight patients affected by CALD and CLD who were matched for age, sex, nutrition and liver function tests (LFTs) and 17 controls (C) took part in this study. The following tests were performed: serum and liver malondialdehyde (MDA) determination by the TBA test, liver total glutathione (GSH) estimate, mitochondrial (ALDH2) and cytosolic (ALDH1) aldehyde dehydrogenase activity determinations. Patients who showed signs of malnutrition were excluded from this study. Serum and hepatic TBA-reactive substances resulted in a slight increase in chronic liver patients compared to controls but did not show any difference between CALD and CLD groups. Liver total glutathione did not show any change. Hepatic ALDH2 activity was significantly (P less than 0.01) higher in CALD than in CLD and control patients whereas ALDH1 did not show any difference. These results suggest that the increased lipid peroxidation in CALD and in CLD is probably secondary to liver damage rather than being the pathogenic factor.