3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) Abuse may Cause Oxidative Stress and Potential Free Radical Damage
Free Radical Research January 1, 2003 Jun Zhou, Peng Chen, Ye Zhou et al. 45 citations
MDMA abuse is associated with oxidative stress and potential free radical damage. Compared with 120 healthy volunteers, 120 MDMA abusers had significantly higher levels of lipoperoxide in erythrocytes and significantly lower levels of vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene in plasma, as well as lower activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in erythrocytes. Higher MDMA dose and longer abuse duration correlated with greater increases in lipoperoxide and greater decreases in antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes. These results suggest that MDMA abuse may induce oxidative stress.