The effect of acetate, pyruvate, and glucose on alcohol metabolism.

Although many investigators have studied the effects of pyruvate and glucose on alcohol metabolism, there is still disagreement as to what effect. they have on the rate of alcohol oxidat.ion. Jacobsen (1) discussed t.he various reports in which the results vary from no effect of pyruvate, inhibition by pyruvate or glucose, or an actual increase in the rate of alcohol oxidation by pyruvate or glucose. Bartlett and Barnet (Z), using radioactive ethanol, concluded that alcohol metabolism was markedly inhibited by pyruvat,e. Only one animal was used, however, and only one level of alcohol studied. A more extensive study by the tracer technique has therefore been done with both acetate and pyruvate. Acetate was used since its oxidation involves t.he same metabolic pathways as pyruvate t,hrough the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Thiamine-deficient animals were included, since pyruvate oxidation should be part,ially blocked under these conditions. The effect of glucose on blood alcohol disappearance in human beings was also studied.