LONG-TERM ABSTINENT ALCOHOLICS HAVE A BLUNTED BLOOD GLUCOSE RESPONSE TO 2-DEOXY-d-GLUCOSE

— Aims: In this study we explored the relationship between alcohol and carbohydrate consumption in long-term abstinent alcoholics. Methods: We employed an established laboratory paradigm which allowed us to stimulate and measure dietary intake. 2-Deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG) is a glucose analogue that cau...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford) 2002-11, Vol.37 (6), p.586-590
Main Authors: Umhau, John C., Petrulis, Sarah G., Diaz, Rosalyn, Riggs, Patti A., Biddison, James R., George, David T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Alcoholism
Alcoholism - blood
Alcoholism and acute alcohol poisoning
Analysis of Variance
Biological and medical sciences
Blood Glucose - analysis
Case-Control Studies
Deoxyglucose - pharmacology
Dietary Carbohydrates - administration & dosage
Double-Blind Method
Glucagon - blood
Humans
Insulin - blood
Male
Medical sciences
Surveys and Questionnaires
Temperance
Toxicology
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:— Aims: In this study we explored the relationship between alcohol and carbohydrate consumption in long-term abstinent alcoholics. Methods: We employed an established laboratory paradigm which allowed us to stimulate and measure dietary intake. 2-Deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG) is a glucose analogue that causes an intracellular energy deprivation resulting in exaggerated food consumption and a compensatory metabolic response to raise blood glucose. Using a double-blind design, we gave an infusion of 25 mg/kg 2-DG or placebo to 20 long-term abstinent alcoholics and 19 healthy volunteers. Results: There were no baseline differences in any dietary, behavioural or biochemical variables. As expected, 2-DG increased caloric consumption and blood glucose levels in a time-dependent fashion. There were no differences in food consumption between the alcoholics and the healthy volunteers following the 2-DG stimulus. However, the alcoholic group had a significantly blunted response in blood glucose. Conclusions: The origin of this atypical blood glucose response may antedate the onset of alcoholism, or it may be secondary to alcohol-related damage that persists beyond 6 months. Previous accounts of increased sweet consumption in alcoholics were not substantiated, although they may be present in the peri-withdrawal period.
ISSN:0735-0414
1464-3502
1464-3502
DOI:10.1093/alcalc/37.6.586