Antioxidant and DNA protective effects of NTX, a proprietary glycyrrhizin/D-mannitol product, in association with alcohol consumption: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study

Abstract

Chronic/heavy alcohol consumption is a risk factor/cause of numerous diseases. Alcohol toxicity involves metabolic activation and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with resultant tissue damage. Glycyrrhizin exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and tissue protective properties. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study involving 50 healthy subjects evaluated the ability of a proprietary glycyrrhizin/D-mannitol product to modulate alcohol-induced oxidative stress and tissue damage. One-time acute alcohol consumption at 1.52 gm/kg within an hour caused transient elevations in serum ROS and derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (dROM), increases in lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyls, and DNA damage in peripheral lymphocytes. Alcohol containing the glycyrrhizin/D-mannitol study product significantly modulated markers of oxidative stress and tissue damage, including a decrease in DNA damage as assessed by three assay techniques, and decreases in lipid and protein oxidative damage. Consumption of the proprietary glycyrrhizin/D-mannitol study product during alcohol consumption may provide protection against the adverse tissue-related effects of alcohol.