Biomarkers to assess chronic alcohol consumption: carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) a reliable biomarker

Abstract

Alcohol abuse is very common all over the world. The biological, clinical and social effects of alcohol abuse have long made evident the need for objective and specific markers for alcohol-related diseases and for early detection of alcohol consumers at risk. Alcohol abusers may exhibit several biochemical alterations, some of which have been used as markers of alcoholism i.e. Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) and Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin (CDT). The present study was taken up to estimate serum biochemical parameters i.e. ALT, GGT and CDT in chronic alcoholics. The study subjects were divided into 2 group’s i.e. Group-I was cases and Group-II was controls. Group-I includes (n=30) male chronic alcoholics with a history of alcohol abuse (since 1year to 11+ years) and aged 25-65 years. Group-II includes (n=30) age-matched, non alcoholics were taken as controls in the study. Biomarkers i.e. ALT, GGT and CDT were assayed in the serum of all study subjects. The present study shown increased serum levels of ALT, GGT and CDT in Group-I as compared to Group-II. There is a significant increase of enzyme activities seen in CDT, when compared to serum GGT, ALT levels of case group. CDT sensitive bio markers which can be used to diagnose alcohol abuse and is superior to GGT, ALT in terms of sensitivity as well as specificity.