THE METABOLIC RESPONSE TO EXERCISE IN CHRONIC ALCOHOLICS

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Abstract
The metabolic response to steady exercise was studied in 6 chronic alcoholics and 6 normal control subjects. Higher concentrations of lactate and pyruvate were observed in the alcoholics during exercise and they also developed post-exercise ketosis. These changes were probably not due to reduced fitness of the alcoholics as the heart rates of both groups were similar. Alcoholics had lower levels of growth hormone during exercise compared with the controls suggesting that chronic alcohol consumption has a depressor effect on pathways regulating the release of growth hormone.