Impact of Antibiotic Self-Medication on Liver and Kidney Biochemical Parameters (LFTs) and Oxidative Stress Markers Among University Students in Peshawar
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65761/pjcr.2026.314Keywords:
Self-Medication; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Liver Function Tests; Kidney Function Tests; Oxidative StressAbstract
Background: Antibiotic self-medication among university students may contribute to antimicrobial resistance and adverse hepatic, renal, and oxidative effects, warranting biochemical assessment and stewardship education.
Objective: To evaluate the relationship between antibiotic self-medication and liver and kidney biochemical parameters and some oxidative stress markers in university students of Peshawar.
Methods: This comparative analytical cross-sectional study included 100 university students at Khyber Medical College, Peshawar, from September 2025 to June 2026. Participants were equally divided into antibiotic self-medication and non-self-medication groups. Questionnaire data and biochemical parameters assessing hepatic, renal, oxidative stress, and antioxidant status were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0. Independent-samples t-tests and chi-square tests were applied, and a two-tailed p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The mean age for the self-medication group being 24.82 ± 5.31 years, and for the non-self-medication group being 24.36 ± 5.08 years. The mean levels of ALT, AST, ALP, serum creatinine and blood urea were higher in the self-medication group compared to the non-self-medication group. ALT (35.84 ± 9.21 vs. 28.46 ± 7.18 U/L; p<0.001), AST (32.76 ± 8.42 vs. 27.18 ± 6.37 U/L; p=0.001), ALP (118.62 ± 21.54 vs. 105.48 ± 18.76 U/L; p=0.002), serum creatinine (0.96 ± 0.18 vs. 0.86 ± 0.14 mg/dL; p=0.002), and blood urea (31.84 ± 7.62 vs. 27.56 ± 6.13 mg/dL; p=0.002) were significantly higher in the self-medication group. The participants who self-medicated with antibiotics showed significant increases in MDA and significant decreases in GSH, SOD and CAT (p<0.001 for each).
Conclusion: Antibiotic self-medication was associated with differences in hepatic, renal, and oxidative stress parameters, highlighting the need for antimicrobial stewardship and prospective studies.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Bibi Hajira Ishaq, Zahid Sarfraz Khan, Natasha Junaid, Ubaid ur Rehman, Kashif ur Rehman Khalid, Hamza Shahzad
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