Alcohol and alcoholism : international journal of the Medical Council on Alcoholism
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Low platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO)-B activity has been proposed as a marker for alcohol-dependence. Findings are, however, contradictory and the influence of confounding factors have been thoroughly investigated. Thus, it is now well established that cigarette smoking reduces platelet MAO-activity. However, not much is known about the influence of smokeless tobacco, i.e. snuff or chewing tobacco, on platelet MAO-B activity. The aim of the present study was to compare platelet MAO-B activity in type 1 alcohol-dependent subjects with concomitant use of smokeless tobacco (i.e. snuff users), use of smoking tobacco (i.e. cigarette smokers), and in those without any tobacco use. ⋯ The findings in the present study suggests that in the alcohol-dependent subjects the concomitant use of smokeless tobacco, i.e. snuffing, does not have an inhibitory effect on platelet MAO-B activity. This may have implications for future research. Thus, alcohol-dependent subjects with concomitant tobacco use should be grouped separately according to the form of the tobacco used, i.e. smoking or smokeless tobacco.