Influence of Alcohol Consumption on Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Status in Cancer Patients - Case-control Study from Western Nepal

• Published in: Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP 2012, Vol.13 (7), p.3513-3517
• Main Authors: Nagamma, T, Bhutia, Rinchen Doma, Pokharel, Daya Ram, Yadav, Saraswati, Baxi, J
• Format: Article
• Language: Korean
• ISSN: 1513-7368; 2476-762X

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. Methods: 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, ${\alpha}$-tocopherol and erythrocyte reduced glutathione (GSH) were estimated and compared. Results: The TBARS level was found to be significantly higher ($p{\leq}0.001$) in all types of cancer patients when compared to controls, being aggravated in alcoholics with a smoking habit. No statistical significance ($p{\geq}0.05$) was observed in the level of vitamin C and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol. GSH and TAA level were significantly decreased ($p{\leq}0.001$) in all the groups except those who consumed both branded as well as homemade alcohol and non-alcoholics without smoking habit. Conclusion: 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.