Aldehyde oxidizing capacity of erythrocytes in normal and alcoholic individuals

The acetaldehyde metabolizing capacity in blood of alcoholics and nonalcoholics was investigated by an improved head-space gas chromatographic method. Great individual and interindividual variability was observed. The mean acetaldehyde oxidizing capacity of 3.51 nmoles/min/ml erythrocyte suspension in alcoholics was significantly lower than the mean of 5.20 nmoles/min/ml in nonalcoholics. Furthermore, treatment of alcoholics with aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitors reduced the acetaldehyde oxidizing capacity significantly (mean of 1.67 nmoles/min/ml). No acetaldehyde could be detected in blood of nonalcoholics who ingested 0.25 g ethanol/kg body weight whereas levels of 2-14 microM were detected in blood of alcoholics. After disulfiram, an elevation to 7-103 microM in blood of alcoholics was observed.