In alcoholics, compared to the controls, we found: a significant increase in serum: AST (p = 0.0014), ALT (p = 0.0071), AST/ALT ratio (p < 0.000); significantly lower plasma free carnitine (FC) (p = 0.0316) and total carnitine (TC) (p = 0.0349); and a significant negative correlation between FC (r = -0.6200; R<sup>2</sup> = 0.3844; p = 0.0007), TC (r = -0.4365; R<sup>2</sup> = 0.1905; p = 0.0258), and time of alcohol dependence, suggesting carnitine as an indirect marker of alcohol abuse.