After consuming comparable amounts of ethanol, women have higher blood ethanol concentrations than men, even with allowance for differences in size, and are more susceptible to alcoholic liver disease. Recently, we documented significant "first-pass metabolism" of ethanol due to its oxidation by gastric tissue. We report a study of the possible contribution of this metabolism to the sex-related difference in blood alcohol concentrations in 20 men and 23 women. Six in each group were alcoholics. The first-pass metabolism was determined on the basis of the difference in areas under the curves of blood alcohol concentrations after intravenous and oral administration of ethanol (0.3 g per kilogram of body weight). Alcohol dehydrogenase activity was also measured in endoscopic gastric biopsies. In nonalcoholic subjects, the first-pass metabolism and gastric alcohol dehydrogenase activity of the women were 23 and 59 percent, respectively, of those in the men, and there was a significant correlation (rs = 0.659) between first-pass metabolism and gastric mucosal alcohol dehydrogenase activity. In the alcoholic men, the first-pass metabolism and gastric alcohol dehydrogenase activity were about half those in the nonalcoholic men; in the alcoholic women, the gastric mucosal alcohol dehydrogenase activity was even lower than in the alcoholic men, and first-pass metabolism was virtually abolished. We conclude that the increased bioavailability of ethanol resulting from decreased gastric oxidation of ethanol may contribute to the enhanced vulnerability of women to acute and chronic complications of alcoholism.
Source Information
Institute of Medical Pathology, University School of Medicine, Trieste, Italy.
This article has been cited by other articles:
Karinch, A. M., Martin, J. H., Vary, T. C.
(2008). Acute and chronic ethanol consumption differentially impact pathways limiting hepatic protein synthesis. Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab.
295: E3-E9
[Abstract][Full Text]
Sumida, K. D., Hill, J. M., Matveyenko, A. V.
(2007). Sex Differences in Hepatic Gluconeogenic Capacity After Chronic Alcohol Consumption. Clin Med Res
5: 193-202
[Abstract][Full Text]
Romitti, P. A., Sun, L., Honein, M. A., Reefhuis, J., Correa, A., Rasmussen, S. A., the National Birth Defects Prevention Study,
(2007). Maternal Periconceptional Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Orofacial Clefts. Am J Epidemiol
166: 775-785
[Abstract][Full Text]
Staton-Tindall, M., Garner, B. R., Morey, J. T., Leukefeld, C., Krietemeyer, J., Saum, C. A., Oser, C. B.
(2007). Gender Differences in Treatment Engagement Among a Sample of Incarcerated Substance Abusers. Criminal Justice and Behavior
34: 1143-1156
[Abstract]
Brand-Miller, J. C, Fatima, K., Middlemiss, C., Bare, M., Liu, V., Atkinson, F., Petocz, P.
(2007). Effect of alcoholic beverages on postprandial glycemia and insulinemia in lean, young, healthy adults. Am. J. Clin. Nutr.
85: 1545-1551
[Abstract][Full Text]
Mehta, M. M, Moriarty, K. J, Proctor, D., Bird, M., Darling, W.
(2006). Alcohol misuse in older people: heavy consumption and protean presentations.. J. Epidemiol. Community Health
60: 1048-1052
[Abstract][Full Text]
Ernstgard, L., Shibata, E., Johanson, G.
(2005). Uptake and Disposition of Inhaled Methanol Vapor in Humans. Toxicol Sci
88: 30-38
[Abstract][Full Text]
Moore, A. A., Gould, R., Reuben, D. B., Greendale, G. A., Carter, M. K., Zhou, K., Karlamangla, A.
(2005). Longitudinal Patterns and Predictors of Alcohol Consumption in the United States. Am. J. Public Health
95: 458-465
[Abstract][Full Text]
Bond, G. E., Burr, R., Mccurry, S. M., Rice, M. M., Borenstein, A. R., Kukull, W. A., Teri, L., Bowen, J. D., Mccormick, W. C., Larson, E. B.
(2004). Alcohol, Gender, and Cognitive Performance: A Longitudinal Study Comparing Older Japanese and Non-Hispanic White Americans. J Aging Health
16: 615-640
[Abstract]
Sumida, K. D., Qureshi, T., Catanzaro, M. J., Arimoto, S. M., Hill, J. M.
(2004). CHRONIC ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION YIELDS SEX DIFFERENCES IN WHOLE-BODY GLUCOSE PRODUCTION IN RATS. Alcohol Alcohol
39: 418-426
[Abstract][Full Text]
Milton, K.
(2004). Ferment in the Family Tree: Does a Frugivorous Dietary Heritage Influence Contemporary Patterns of Human Ethanol Use?. Integr. Comp. Biol.
44: 304-314
[Abstract][Full Text]
Cho, E., Smith-Warner, S. A., Ritz, J., van den Brandt, P. A., Colditz, G. A., Folsom, A. R., Freudenheim, J. L., Giovannucci, E., Goldbohm, R. A., Graham, S., Holmberg, L., Kim, D.-H., Malila, N., Miller, A. B., Pietinen, P., Rohan, T. E., Sellers, T. A., Speizer, F. E., Willett, W. C., Wolk, A., Hunter, D. J.
(2004). Alcohol Intake and Colorectal Cancer: A Pooled Analysis of 8 Cohort Studies. ANN INTERN MED
140: 603-613
[Abstract][Full Text]
Bohm, M., Rosenkranz, S., Laufs, U.
(2004). Alcohol and red wine: impact on cardiovascular risk. Nephrol Dial Transplant
19: 11-16
[Full Text]
Schweinsburg, B. C., Alhassoon, O. M., Taylor, M. J., Gonzalez, R., Videen, J. S., Brown, G. G., Patterson, T. L., Grant, I.
(2003). Effects of Alcoholism and Gender on Brain Metabolism. Am. J. Psychiatry
160: 1180-1183
[Abstract][Full Text]
Tiemersma, E. W., Wark, P. A., Ocke, M. C., Bunschoten, A., Otten, M. H., Kok, F. J., Kampman, E.
(2003). Alcohol Consumption, Alcohol Dehydrogenase 3 Polymorphism, and Colorectal Adenomas. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev.
12: 419-425
[Abstract][Full Text]
Hommer, D. W., Momenan, R., Kaiser, E., Rawlings, R. R.
(2003). Evidence for a Gender-Related Effect of Alcoholism on Brain Volumes. Focus
1: 171-178
[Abstract][Full Text]
Zhou, H.
(2003). Pharmacokinetic Strategies in Deciphering Atypical Drug Absorption Profiles. J Clin Pharmacol
43: 211-227
[Abstract][Full Text]
Sommers, M. S., Savage, C., Wray, J., Dyehouse, J. M.
(2003). Laboratory Measures of Alcohol (Ethanol) Consumption: Strategies to Assess Drinking Patterns with Biochemical Measures. Biol Res Nurs
4: 203-217
[Abstract]
Parlesak, A., Billinger, M. H.-U., Bode, C., Bode, J. C.
(2002). GASTRIC ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITY IN MAN: INFLUENCE OF GENDER, AGE, ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND SMOKING IN A CAUCASIAN POPULATION. Alcohol Alcohol
37: 388-393
[Abstract][Full Text]
Parker, A. S., Cerhan, J. R., Lynch, C. F., Ershow, A. G., Cantor, K. P.
(2002). Gender, Alcohol Consumption, and Renal Cell Carcinoma. Am J Epidemiol
155: 455-462
[Abstract][Full Text]
Donato, F., Tagger, A., Gelatti, U., Parrinello, G., Boffetta, P., Albertini, A., Decarli, A., Trevisi, P., Ribero, M. L., Martelli, C., Porru, S., Nardi, G.
(2002). Alcohol and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Effect of Lifetime Intake and Hepatitis Virus Infections in Men and Women. Am J Epidemiol
155: 323-331
[Abstract][Full Text]
Franz, M. J., Bantle, J. P., Beebe, C. A., Brunzell, J. D., Chiasson, J.-L., Garg, A., Holzmeister, L. A., Hoogwerf, B., Mayer-Davis, E., Mooradian, A. D., Purnell, J. Q., Wheeler, M.
(2002). Evidence-Based Nutrition Principles and Recommendations for the Treatment and Prevention of Diabetes and Related Complications. Diabetes Care
25: 148-198
[Full Text]
Sillanaukee, P., Strid, N., Jousilahti, P., Vartiainen, E., Poikolainen, K., Nikkari, S., Allen, J. P., Alho, H.
(2001). Association of self-reported diseases and health care use with commonly used laboratory markers for alcohol consumption. Alcohol Alcohol
36: 339-345
[Abstract][Full Text]
Pfefferbaum, A., Rosenbloom, M., Deshmukh, A., Sullivan, E. V.
(2001). Sex Differences in the Effects of Alcohol on Brain Structure. Am. J. Psychiatry
158: 188-197
[Abstract][Full Text]
Ammendola, A., Gemini, D., Iannaccone, S., Argenzio, F., Ciccone, G., Ammendola, E., Serio, L., Ugolini, G., Bravaccio, F.
(2000). GENDER AND PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY IN CHRONIC ALCOHOLISM: A CLINICAL-ELECTRONEUROGRAPHIC STUDY. Alcohol Alcohol
35: 368-371
[Abstract][Full Text]
McDowell, J. A., Chittick, G. E., Stevens, C. P., Edwards, K. D., Stein, D. S.
(2000). Pharmacokinetic Interaction of Abacavir (1592U89) and Ethanol in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Adults. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother.
44: 1686-1690
[Abstract][Full Text]
Pastino, G. M., Conolly, R. B.
(2000). Application of a Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model to Estimate the Bioavailability of Ethanol in Male Rats: Distinction between Gastric and Hepatic Pathways of Metabolic Clearance. Toxicol Sci
55: 256-265
[Abstract][Full Text]
Dixit, A. R., Crum, R. M.
(2000). Prospective Study of Depression and the Risk of Heavy Alcohol Use in Women. Am. J. Psychiatry
157: 751-758
[Abstract][Full Text]
Soderberg, B. L., Sicinska, E. T., Blodget, E., Cluette-Brown, J. E., Suter, P. M., Schuppisser, T., Vetter, W., Laposata, M.
(1999). Preanalytical Variables Affecting the Quantification of Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters in Plasma and Serum Samples. Clin. Chem.
45: 2183-2190
[Abstract][Full Text]
Feinman, L., Lieber, C. S
(1999). Ethanol and lipid metabolism. Am. J. Clin. Nutr.
70: 791-792
[Full Text]
Siler, S. Q, Neese, R. A, Hellerstein, M. K
(1999). De novo lipogenesis, lipid kinetics, and whole-body lipid balances in humans after acute alcohol consumption. Am. J. Clin. Nutr.
70: 928-936
[Abstract][Full Text]
Oneta, C M, Simanowski, U A, Martinez, M, Allali-Hassani, A, Pares, X, Homann, N, Conradt, C, Waldherr, R, Fiehn, W, Coutelle, C, Seitz, H K
(1998). First pass metabolism of ethanol is strikingly influenced by the speed of gastric emptying. Gut
43: 612-619
[Abstract][Full Text]
Thurman, R. G.
(1998). II. Alcoholic liver injury involves activation of Kupffer cells by endotoxin. Am. J. Physiol. Gastrointest. Liver Physiol.
275: G605-G611
[Abstract][Full Text]
O'Connor, P. G., Schottenfeld, R. S.
(1998). Patients with Alcohol Problems. NEJM
338: 592-602
[Full Text]
Bellentani, S, Saccoccio, G, Costa, G, Tiribelli, C, Manenti, F, Sodde, M, Croce', L S., Sasso, F, Pozzato, G, Cristianini, G, Brandi and the Dionysos Study Group, G
(1997). Drinking habits as cofactors of risk for alcohol induced liver damage. Gut
41: 845-850
[Abstract][Full Text]
Gibson, P. R.
(1997). Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Culture and Delegitimization: A Feminist Analysis. Feminism Psychology
7: 475-493
[Abstract]
Levitt, M. D., Li, R., Demaster, E. G., Elson, M., Furne, J., Levitt, D. G.
(1997). Use of measurements of ethanol absorption from stomach and intestine to assess human ethanol metabolism. Am. J. Physiol. Gastrointest. Liver Physiol.
273: G951-G957
[Abstract][Full Text]
Prisco, D., Caciolli, S., Del Pace, S., Gensini, G. F.
(1996). State-of-the-Art Review : Sex and Cardiovascular Risk Factors. CLIN APPL THROMB HEMOST
2: 94-102
Lieber, C. S.
(1995). Medical Disorders of Alcoholism. NEJM
333: 1058-1065
[Full Text]
Sijbrands, E. J.G., Smelt, A. H.M., Westendorp, R. G.J., Lowenfels, A. B., Fuchs, C. S., Stampfer, M. J., Willett, W. C.
(1995). Alcohol Consumption and Mortality among Women. NEJM
333: 1081-1082
[Full Text]
Fuchs, C. S., Stampfer, M. J., Colditz, G. A., Giovannucci, E. L., Manson, J. E., Kawachi, I., Hunter, D. J., Hankinson, S. E., Hennekens, C. H., Rosner, B., Speizer, F. E., Willett, W. C.
(1995). Alcohol Consumption and Mortality among Women. NEJM
332: 1245-1250
[Abstract][Full Text]
Merkatz, R. B., Temple, R., Sobel, S., Feiden, K., Kessler, D. A., The Working Group on Women in Clinical Trials,
(1993). Women in Clinical Trials of New Drugs -- A Change in Food and Drug Administration Policy. NEJM
329: 292-296
[Full Text]
Kerr, D.
(1992). Review articles : Alcohol and palliative care. Palliat Med
6: 185-201
[Abstract]
Previous
