Malondialdehyde production by erythrocytes from alcoholic and non-alcoholic subjects

A survey of the capacity of erythrocyte suspensions to handle a standard hydrogen peroxide oxidative load was made in a population of white male hospitalized alcoholics and non-hospitalized, non-alcoholic subjects. As measured by malondialdehyde (MDA) production, the capacity to handle this oxidation load was decreased in a significant percentage of individuals with a positive family history of alcoholism and who have experienced problems with alcohol sufficient to produce cytopathological changes and to require hospitalization.