Inhibitory Effects of Alcohol on Intestinal Amino Acid Transport in vivo and in vitro

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Abstract
The effect of ethanol on the active transport of amino acids in the rat intestine was studied in vitro and in vivo. It was shown that 0.5 and 2.0% ethanol significantly inhibited the active transport of l-phenylalanine in everted sacs in vitro by 60 and 84%, respectively. The latter concentration completely abolished the active transport of l-methionine. At this concentration ethanol reduced tissue respiration by only 19%. In studies in vivo, 250 mg alcohol/100 g body weight given by stomach tube significantly inhibited the intestinal absorption of l-phenylalanine by about 50% but did not modify absorption of d-phenylalanine, an amino acid that is not actively transported. The possible significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the nutritional deficiencies and fatty liver that occur in chronic alcoholism.