AbstractChange in glycosylation is quick and dramatic process which leads to various pathological conditions. Over expression of sialylation is noted in various diseases. Though sialylation is one of the prominent features associated with acute phase protein, Desialylation results in clearance of protein or tinted cell. Impact of alcohol on Sialic acid of cell membrane needs to be investigated. In present study we estimated effect of alcohol on Sialic acid of erythrocyte membrane in male alcoholics without liver disease and correlated its value with GGT, a biomarker of alcohol abuse. We found significant increase in Sialic acid level in plasma with noteworthy decrease in membrane Sialic acid levels. Plasma GGT revealed Positive correlation with plasma Sialic acid where as negative correlation with membrane Sialic acid. As alcohol has definite effect on Sialic acid. Sialic acid can be used as marker to differentiate non-alcoholic from alcoholic before any clinical symptoms appear.
Keywords: Alcoholics; Sialic Acid; Glycoprotein’s; Erythrocyte; Cell Membrane.