Effect of alcohol dependence on the levels of duodenal disaccharidases in human subjects.

BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to detect the duodenal enzyme activity in patients of alcohol dependence and to compare with non-alcoholic patients of non-ulcer dyspepsia. METHODS Disaccharidases (lactase, sucrase, maltase) were estimated in 20 non alcoholic patients of non-ulcer dyspepsia and 20 alcoholics admitted to the drug de-addiction and treatment centre of PGIMER, Chandigarh, India. RESULTS No significant influence of alcohol on enzyme levels in patients of alcohol dependence when compared to patients of non-ulcer dyspepsia was observed. However, a significant decrease in lactase level was noted in patients consuming more than 125 gm/day of alcohol. CONCLUSION Amount of consumption of alcohol showed decrease in lactase enzyme, but not in maltase and sucrase. There was no effect of duration of alcohol consumption on dissacharidases in the two groups.