Chronic alcohol drinking markedly influence on the total level of sialic acid (TSA) and glycolipids in the blood. The diagnostics parameter that connects the evaluation of these both metabolites is sialic acid attached to glycolipids named lipid-bound sialic acid (LSA). OBJECTIVE To evaluate an effect of chronic alcohol consumption on the serum level of TSA and LSA taking into consideration the presence of hepatocellular injury proved by liver enzymes activity. Additionally, the diagnostic usefulness of serum TSA and LSA determination was compared with traditional markers of alcohol abuse and hepatocellular injury. METHODS The experimental group comprised 118 alcohol-dependent subjects. They were divided into 2 subgroups according to the liver enzymes activity. The diagnosis of dependency was made on the basis of ICD-10 criteria. The control group was consisted of 27 healthy social drinkers. LSA was measured according to the resorcinol method described by Katopodis and Stock, and TSA was assayed with a colorimetric enzymatic method. RESULTS The TSA and LSA concentrations in the alcohol abuse patients were significantly higher than that of healthy controls. Taking into consideration the presence of hepatocellular injury, the concentration of LSA differs between subgroups with elevated and normal liver enzymes activity but the levels of TSA does not differ. The elevated level of LSA distinguish (ROC analysis) the patients with normal and elevated liver enzymes activity but the level of TSA does not. Diagnostic power of TSA and LSA determination in the sera of alcohol dependent patients was lower than that of AST and GGT. CONCLUSIONS From this study we can conclude that TSA can be recognized to be a good test of alcohol abuse independent on the presence of hepatocellular injury but LSA indicated on the alcoholic hepatocellular injury.