Abstract
Effects of alcohol intake on glucose metabolism were investigated in chronic alcoholics with special regard to liver damage. The results obtained were as follows:
(1) The carbohydrate metabolism in chronic alcoholics measured by the 50g oral glucose tolerance test was deranged in 38.4% of a series of 109 patients.
(2) Abnormal elevations of serum transaminase and γ-glutalmyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP) activities in the patients were observed to be parallel with the development of glucose intolerance.
(3) Furthermore, the increased glucose intolerance turned out to be parallel with the elevation of serum γ-GTP levels.
(4) Derangement of glucose metabolism and elevations of serum enzyme activities were frequently observed in the group of prolonged alcohol intake and either in the aged or the underweight group.
In conclusion, it was conjectured that the decreased glucose tolerance in chronic alcoholics was closely related to the impaired liver function by alcohol intake.
