DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i06.031

Pages: 2204-2211

Alcoholism has caused immense morbidity and mortality to the mankind. Exposure to alcohol for a long time increases the cellular toxicity due to generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) by ethanol metabolism leading to oxidative stress, thus triggering a number of human diseases. This research emphasizes on the counter regulatory mechanisms of the body against these ROS and how these defense mechanisms, the antioxidants are interrupted by alcohol. Selenium being an antioxidant is altered by the oxidative stress in chronic alcoholics. This study was aimed to assess selenium level in alcoholic liver disease and to correlate it with oxidative stress markers like Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT). This is a case-control study done on 48 cases of known alcoholics &48 normal healthy persons as controls. Selenium, MDA, GGT, glucose, creatinine & urea levels were estimated in all the serum samples &analyzed by student’s t test &Pearson correlation coefficient .The levels of MDA & GGT in alcoholics were significantly increased while the Selenium level was significantly low in the alcoholics than the controls. Glucose levels had no significant difference. Urea & Creatinine levels were increased in cases. Increase in GGT and MDA indicates an increased risk for developing alcoholic liver diseases. The decreased selenium concentration indicates the decreased anti-oxidant status in alcoholics.