Lipid peroxidation in alcoholic liver disease in man.

The lipoperoxide level in the liver as well as serum in chronic alcoholics was measured. Of patients with chronic hepatitis, alcoholic patients had a significantly higher level of hepatic lipoperoxide than non alcoholic patients. The hepatic lipoperoxide level was correlated with serum lipoperoxide level. Chronic alcoholics with high level of serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (S-GOT) showed a higher serum lipoperoxide level than alcoholics with the low S-GOT level. After 2 weeks' abstinence the high serum level of lipoperoxide decreased remarkedly, which was associated with improvement in liver function test. These results suggest the involvement of lipid peroxidation in alcohol induced liver damage.