The impact of smoking and drinking on plasma levels of norharman

Renske Spijkerman, Regina Van den Eijnden, Dike Van de Mheen, Inge Bongers, Durk Fekkes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The hypothesized role of the beta-carboline norharman in processes of drug dependence forms the basis for several studies on plasma levels of norharman among substance-using populations, particularly among alcoholics and smokers. However, it is not clear whether norharman is implicated in processes of dependence to both substances, or only to tobacco smoke. In the present study plasma concentrations of norharman were measured among four groups of participants regarding heavy smokers who do or do not drink alcohol excessively and nonsmokers who do or do not drink alcohol excessively. All measurements were conducted on three different days with an interval of 2 months in between and at three times during the day to account for possible circadian or seasonal variations. Results showed that elevated plasma levels of norharman appear only in heavy smokers regardless of their drinking profile. The norharman plasma levels of nonsmoking excessive drinkers showed a similar pattern to that of the control group. The findings indicate that elevated plasma levels of norharman are due to heavy smoking and not to excessive drinking.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)61-71
Number of pages11
JournalEuropean Neuropsychopharmacology
Volume12
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2002
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was supported by a grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) and the Health Research and Development Council (ZON). The authors thank the collaborators of the Section Pathophysiology of Behavior in Rotterdam for their skillful technical assistance. Special thanks go to Dr G.J.J.M. Borsboom (Department of Public Health, Erasmus University, Rotterdam) for his assistance with the statistical analyses. Finally, the authors are grateful to all volunteers who participated in this study.

Funding

This study was supported by a grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) and the Health Research and Development Council (ZON). The authors thank the collaborators of the Section Pathophysiology of Behavior in Rotterdam for their skillful technical assistance. Special thanks go to Dr G.J.J.M. Borsboom (Department of Public Health, Erasmus University, Rotterdam) for his assistance with the statistical analyses. Finally, the authors are grateful to all volunteers who participated in this study.

Keywords

  • Alcohol use
  • Beta-carbolines
  • Blood plasma levels
  • High pressure liquid chromatography
  • Norharman
  • Smoking

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