Elevated urinary dolichol levels in chronic alcoholics

Urinary dolichol (long chain 2,3-dihydropolyprenol) levels were determined in 23 chronic alcoholics and 15 normal subjects using high performance liquid chromatography. Normal dolichol levels were 4.7 +/- 2.8 ng/ml whereas, in chronic alcoholics, this value was increased to 61.1 +/- 44.6 ng/ml. Stopping the intake of alcohol for a few weeks brought the urinary dolichol gradually to the normal level.