Effect of alcohol ingestion on portal venous blood flow in healthy volunteers: comparison between the subjects with and without ALDH I isozyme.

Effect of alcohol ingestion (25 g ethanol) on portal venous blood flow was investigated in healthy subjects using an ultrasonic pulsed doppler method. It was found that; (1) portal blood flow increased by 24% at 30 minutes and returned to the basal level at 60 minutes after alcohol ingestion; (2) there was no significant difference in the effect of alcohol ingestion on portal blood flow between the subjects with and without ALDH I isozyme; (3) blood ethanol levels correlated with portal blood flow at 30 minutes after alcohol ingestion, while this correlation was not observed at 60 minutes thereafter; and (4) blood acetaldehyde levels did not correlate with portal blood flow either at 30 minutes or at 60 minutes following alcohol ingestion. In conclusion, the portal blood flow increases following alcohol ingestion which is not associated with the increase in the blood acetaldehyde level.