Evidence of Increased Homocysteine Levels in Alcoholism: The Franconian Alcoholism Research Studies (FARS)

Bleich, Stefan; Carl, Marco; Bayerlein, Kristina; Reulbach, Udo; Biermann, Teresa; Hillemacher, Thomas; Bönsch, Dominikus; Kornhuber, Johannes

doi:10.1097/01.alc.0000156083.91214.59

Cited by 102 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…5,29 We recently reported evidence that this CAG trinucleotide repeat in the coding region of the androgen receptor is Figure 2 CAG repeat length (short (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18), intermediate (19)(20)(21)(22)(23) and long (24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32) and Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale-total (OCDS-to). One-way analysis of variance and post hoc analysis (Bonferroni) revealed significant differences between the groups (F ¼ 3.312, P ¼ 0.040), 'short' versus 'long' (P ¼ 0.034).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Study design and laboratory methods were carried out as previously described (Franconian Alcoholism Research Studies). 4,16,18 Patients suffering from any other psychiatric diseases, substance abuse apart from alcohol or nicotine, existence of severe somatic illnesses or known hypothalamic pituitary adrenocortical (HPA) axis or thyroid diseases were not enrolled in the study. Regarding the associations between CAG repeats, leptin and alcohol craving, partial results from the same study sample have already been published before.…”

Section: Patientsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The modulating effect of the androgen receptor on craving in alcohol withdrawal of men is partially mediated by leptin

et al. 2009

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We reported recently that a functional relevant CAG trinucleotide repeat of the androgen receptor influences craving of men in alcohol withdrawal. It is known to modulate serum concentrations of leptin, which affects hypothalamic appetite regulation. Its plasma levels are elevated during chronic alcohol consumption, normalize within periods of abstinence and are associated with craving. The aim of this study was to further elucidate the role of leptin in mediating the effects of the mentioned polymorphism on craving in men undergoing alcohol withdrawal. We included 110 male in-patients who were admitted for detoxification treatment. Each one had an established diagnosis of alcohol dependence according to the DSM-IV. Our results show on the one hand negative associations between the number of CAG repeats and (i) leptin serum levels (Po0.01) and (ii) craving (Po0.05), and on the other hand, a positive association between leptin and craving of man in alcohol withdrawal (Po0.001). The path analysis revealed direct and mediated effects of the number of CAG repeats on alcohol craving, direct effects (r ¼ À0.144) accounting for 60% and indirect, leptin-mediated effects (r ¼ À0.096) accounting for 40% of the total effect. Dysregulation of sexual hormones influences human metabolism and seems to affect leptin homeostasis. This report suggests that the investigated polymorphism mediates its effect on craving of men in alcohol withdrawal mostly through the regulation of leptin. Nevertheless future studies are needed to further explore the functionality of the androgen receptor gene in terms of craving.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Patientsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The modulating effect of the androgen receptor on craving in alcohol withdrawal of men is partially mediated by leptin

et al. 2009

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“…Patients were recruited as part of the Franconian Alcoholism Research Study (FARS-IV) at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg during the years 2009/2010 according to the protocol established in previous studies [17]. They had not previously taken part in this group of studies.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex-Dependent Decrease of Sphingomyelinase Activity During Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment

Mühle

Amova

Biermann

et al. 2014

Cell Physiol Biochem

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Background: In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the role of the acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) in pathophysiological processes and alterations in response to ethanol exposure. Cellular and plasmatic ASM activities are increased in male alcohol dependent patients and decrease during physical withdrawal. Methods: Here, we analyzed the time course of ASM in male and also female acutely intoxicated patients during alcohol withdrawal and compared the activity levels to those under long-term maintenance treatment. Craving and further psychometric parameters were assessed by questionnaires. Results: The gradual decrease of serum ASM was confirmed in males (p<0.001) and continued to lower activities in long-term patients (p=0.001). The trend was similar in females (p=0.178), although the initial enzyme activities were significantly lower (p=0.035). ASM activity strongly correlated with the body mass index in males. The initial ASM activity and its decline during the first two days were associated with the improvement in scores for the Beck depression inventory, the obsessive compulsive drinking and the withdrawal syndrome scales. Conclusion: These data support the potential of ASM as a biomarker for the course of withdrawal therapy in males and provide the first associations of this enzyme with psychological variables such as craving and depression.

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“…Several investigations in recent years described that alcohol consumption, particularly in actively drinking alcoholics, is closely associated with elevated plasma homocysteine levels [1][2][3]. Also, homocysteine serum levels show a high positive correlation with the blood alcohol concentration.…”

Section: The Aminoacid Homocysteinementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Homocysteine, an excitatory amino acid, is evidentially elevated in non-abstinent alcoholics, with a steadily decrease during alcohol withdrawal [1][2][3]. Recent studies showed the impact of elevated homocysteine serum levels on alcohol withdrawal seizures: for first-onset [4] and for previous withdrawal seizures [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomarkers to Predict Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures - A Review of Current Literature

Hillemacher¹,

Cramer²,

Hintzen³

et al. 2009

TOADDJ

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Alcohol withdrawal seizures are one major complication during detoxification treatment of alcohol dependent patients. Anticonvulsive pharmaceutical treatment can be administered but is associated with side-effects like nausea or hyponatriemia. Recent studies have identified different biomarkers that have been associated with the risk of alcohol withdrawal seizures. The aminoacid homocysteine as well as prolactin have been described to be associated with this individual seizure risk. Furthermore, markers of alcohol dependence like carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) have been studied in this context. Also, genetic variants like the apolipoprotein E genotype have been found to be related to the history of withdrawal seizures. Knowledge and critical valuation of these recent findings on biomarkers may help to establish an assessment of the individual risk for withdrawal seizures and therefore may have important clinical implications.

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Evidence of Increased Homocysteine Levels in Alcoholism: The Franconian Alcoholism Research Studies (FARS)

Cited by 102 publications

References 13 publications

The modulating effect of the androgen receptor on craving in alcohol withdrawal of men is partially mediated by leptin

The modulating effect of the androgen receptor on craving in alcohol withdrawal of men is partially mediated by leptin

Sex-Dependent Decrease of Sphingomyelinase Activity During Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment

Biomarkers to Predict Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures - A Review of Current Literature

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