Effect of Weekend Alcohol Consumption on Hepatic Antioxidant Enzyme Activity: Role of Concentration and Gender

Background/Objectives: It is known that chronic alcohol consumption causes alterations to various organs of the body, mainly the liver, but there are no reports of the damage that weekend alcohol consumption can cause to the liver. The liver is the main organ responsible for metabolizing ethanol and therefore experiences the most significant adverse effects of this xenobiotic’s toxicity. In this study, we evaluated the effect of weekend alcohol consumption on the activity of hepatic antioxidant enzymes. Methods: Wistar rats weighing 170–200 g were divided into the following groups: (1) control group and (2) weekend alcohol consumption group, 2 days per week for 12 weeks at two different concentrations: (1) group of males and females consuming a 40% alcohol solution and (2) group of males and females consuming a 5% alcohol solution. At the end of the experiment, liver samples were obtained. The activity of the enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase, as well as the levels of total antioxidant capacity and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, were determined. Results: surprisingly, the results showed an increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes, as well as a decrease in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Conclusions: weekend alcohol consumption for a period of 3 months led to an elevation in antioxidant enzyme activity, but it was not sufficient to prevent the damage caused to the liver by weekend alcohol consumption.