Biochemical and haematological differentiation of opiate addicts from healthy subjects. A case control study

Abstract

The biochemical and haematological parameters of nutritional interest were determined in the serum of opiate addicts in order to compare them with those obtained in healthy subjects. The blood of 106 opiate addicts in detoxification treatment (n=19) or in Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program (MMTP) (n=87) was studied. Opiate addicts presented lower levels in the number of red cells, cholesterol, albumin, retinol, α-tocopherol, folic acid, K and Se and higher levels in the number of leukocytes, GOT, GPT and Na, than the control group. The opiate addicts in MMTP had higher levels of glucose, triglycerides, Mg and P than the opiate addicts in the detoxification treatment and control groups. Significant correlations between the three vitamins (folic acid, retinal and α-tocopherol) were observed and the graphic representations suggest a biochemical differentiation between opiate addicts and healthy subjects. Factor analysis made it possible to select seven factors explaining 66.2% of the total variance, and representing the first and fourth factor, opiate addicts tended to separate from the control group.