Partial Starvation and Alcohol Metabolism An Example of Adaptation to Undernutrition

Abstract
Adult rats were made to lose weight either rapidly or slowly by the restriction of their food intake. The ability to oxidize ethanol as measured by the excretion of C14O2 after giving ethanol-1-C14 decreased markedly while the animals were losing weight. However, as soon as the weight of the animals became stationary, the ability to oxidize alcohol returned to normal. The results are interpreted in the light of previous studies upon liver changes during starvation and protein deficiency. The study appears to provide a clear-cut example of adaptation to undernutrition.
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