Acute ethanol ingestion and haem biosnthesis in health subjects

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Abstract
The effects of acute ethanol ingestion on the activities of the enzymes of heme biosynthesis in peripheral blood cells were monitored in 8 healthy subjects. The mitochondrial enzymes .delta.-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthase, coproporphyrinogen oxidase and ferrochelatase were measured in leukocytes and the cytosolic enzymes ALA dehydratase, porphobilinogen (PBG) deaminase and uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase in erythrocytes. Ingestion of 1.316 mol ethanol resulted in increased activity of the rate-controlling enzymes ALA synthase and PBG deaminase and decreased activity of the other 4 enzymes. There was also increased urinary excretion of coproporphyrin. These observations may be relevant to the biochemical mechanisms involved in the ethanol-related conditions, sideroblastic anemia, cutaneous hepatic porphyria and hepatic siderosis.