EXOGYCOSIDASES, PROTEIN-BOUND SIALIC ACID AND CARBOHYDRATE DEFICIENT TRANSFERRIN AS ALCOHOL BIOMARKERS : A CORRELATIVE STUDY OF BLOOD AND SALIVA IN ALCOHOL DEPENDENT MALES

SHIVASHANKARA AR; RAMLINGAREDDY; JOHN MATHAI P

Volume : IX, Issue : I, January - 2019

EXOGYCOSIDASES, PROTEIN-BOUND SIALIC ACID AND CARBOHYDRATE DEFICIENT TRANSFERRIN AS ALCOHOL BIOMARKERS : A CORRELATIVE STUDY OF BLOOD AND SALIVA IN ALCOHOL DEPENDENT MALES

Shivashankara Ar, Ramlingareddy, John Mathai P

Abstract :

BACKGROUND : Identification of alcoholics especially in early stages of alcohol abuse is crucial in preventing adverse health effects and social consequences. Various biochemical parameters in blood have been proposed as alcohol biomarkers. Alcohol biomarkers in saliva has been a field of recent research interest. AIM : The present aims to assess the changes in exoglycosidases and protein–bound sialic acid in blood and saliva, and carbohydrate deficient transferrin in the blood of alcohol–dependent males compared to healthy controls; and to assess the correlation between blood and saliva with respect to exoglycosidases and protein–bound sialic acid. We also aimed to assess the correlation of exoglycosidases and protein–bound sialic acid (PBSA) with carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT). MATERIALS AND METHODS : The study included sixty four alcohol–dependent males and sixty four healthy controls as subjects. Blood and whole saliva samples were collected. The activities of β–hexosaminidase (HEX), α–fucosidase (FUC), α–mannosidase (MAN) and β–galactosidase (GAL), and level of PBSA were assayed in serum and saliva. The level of CDT was assayed in serum. RESULTS : The activities of exoglycosidases and level of PBSA in serum and saliva, and CDT % in serum were significantly higher in alcohol–dependent males in comparison to controls. There was significant correlation between serum and saliva with respect to the activities of exoglycosidases and level of PBSA in alcohol–dependent males. The PBSA and exoglycosidases did not show any significant correlation with CDT%. CONCLUSION : Exoglycosidases and protein–bound sialic acid serve as alcohol biomarkers in addition to the well–established CDT. Saliva could be a noninvasive tool for diagnosis of alcohol dependence syndrome.