The combined effects of protein deficiency and chronic ethanol administration on rat ethanol metabolism.

This investigation was performed to examine the combined effects of protein deficiency and chronic ethanol consumption on ethanol clearance and hepatic ethanol metabolism of the rat. Protein deficiency alone was associated with reduced ethanol clearance and decreased activity of hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase and the microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system. However, when ethanol (as 36% of energy) was administered concurrently with protein-deficient diets, accelerated ethanol clearance and increased microsomal oxidation of ethanol was observed. Furthermore, in protein-deficient animals fed ethanol, liver alcohol dehydrogenase levels were less decreased when compared with values observed in animals fed protein-deficient diets without ethanol, and this effect was associated with markedly reduced serum testosterone levels in the former group.