Abstract
The present study assess the effect of consumption of alcohol on oxidative stress and antioxidant status in patients suffering from different types of cancer. This hospital based case control study conducted in the Western part of Nepal covered a total of 93 cancer patients with or without alcohol intake and smoking habits, along with 94 age, sex and habit-matched individuals serving as controls. Plasma thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS), total antioxidant activity (TAA), vitamin C, α-tocopherol and erythrocyte reduced glutathione (GSH) were estimated and compared. The TBARS level was found to be significantly higher (p≤0.001) in all types of cancer patients when compared to controls, being aggravated in alcoholics with a smoking habit. No statistical significance (p≥0.05) was observed in the level of vitamin C and α-tocopherol. GSH and TAA level were significantly decreased (p≤0.001) in all the groups except those who consumed both branded as well as homemade alcohol and non-alcoholics without smoking habit. Alcohol, irrespective of its commercial brand, increases oxidative stress in all types of cancer patients. This is even higher when alcohol intake is combined with a smoking habit. Decreased TAA and GSH are major risk factors for cancer development.
Highlights
Alcoholism represents one of the most serious worldwide socioeconomic and health problems
Aim: The present study assess the effect of consumption of alcohol on oxidative stress and antioxidant status in patients suffering from different types of cancer
This hospital based case control study conducted in the Western part of Nepal covered a total of cancer patients with or without alcohol intake and smoking habits, along with age, sex and habit-matched individuals serving as controls
Summary
Alcoholism represents one of the most serious worldwide socioeconomic and health problems. 389,000 cases of cancer representing 3.6% of all cancers (5.2% in men and 1.7% in women) derive from alcohol consumption in the world (Rehm et al, 2004). A survey conducted by the World Society Reforms and Overall Development Service Centre in 2005 revealed that each family spends NRs 40000/- on liquor annually. Exact incidence of different cancers in Nepal is not yet available, preliminary studies suggest that lung, oral cavity and stomach in males, and cervix, breast and lung in females are the most common type of cancers in Nepal (Binu et al, 2007; Pradhananga et al, 2009)
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