Influence of hyperthyroidism on the rate of ethanol metabolism in man.

The rate of ethanol metabolism was studied in 3 hyperthyroidism patients without therapy and in 2 after 1 week of treatment with propylthiouracil and reserpine. The rate of ethanol metabolism (mg/kg/h +/- SEM) was 386 +/- 57 in the 3 hyperthyroid patients, 184.5 +/- 2.5 in the 2 treated patients and 159 +/- 15 in 12 euthyroid non-alcoholic subjects. The results suggest that hyperthyroidism markedly increases ethanol metabolism.