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Ethanol‐induced hypoglycaemia in man: its suppression by the alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor 4‐methylpyrazole
Author(s) -
SALASPURO M. P.,
PIKKARAINEN P.,
LINDROS K.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2362.1977.tb01640.x
Subject(s) - acetaldehyde , ethanol , alcohol dehydrogenase , chemistry , alcohol , endocrinology , medicine , lactate dehydrogenase , butyrate , biochemistry , enzyme , fermentation
. Infusion of ethanol (0.6 g/kg body wt) caused marked hypoglycaemia in subjects fasted for 36 h. Previous administration of the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) inhibitor 4‐methylpyrazole (4‐MP, 7 mg/kg body wt i.v.) strongly suppressed the ethanol‐induced hypoglycaemia. The rate of ethanol elimination was 84.6 mg/kg per hour. 4‐MP at the dose used caused a 21% reduction of ethanol elimination, but had no significant effect on blood acetaldehyde levels. 4‐MP also significantly suppressed the ethanol‐induced elevation of blood lactate and almost completely prevented the increase in the 3‐hydroxy‐butyrate/acetoacetate ratio, but had only a slight effect on the lactate/pyruvate ratio of venous blood. The results demonstrate that the hypoglycaemia and lactacidaemia produced by the oxidation of alcohol can be prevented by a dose of 4‐MP that diminishes or prevents the ethanol‐induced shift in the NAD‐coupled redox state of the liver.