Body composition in control, alcoholic and depressive individuals using a multiple isotope technique and whole body counting of potassium.
(1) Height, weight, total body potassium, exchangeable sodium, bromide space, total body water and concentrations of sodium, potassium and chloride in plasma were measured in control subjects and individuals suffering from alcoholism, with techniques which included body counting and a multiple isotope method using 24Na, 82Br and 3H2O. (2) No differences were found between control and alcoholic subjects so there was no evidence that chronic alcoholism altered body composition. In particular there was no eficence of cellular damage or loss which would have been reflected in changes in KT or KIN. (3) The data were combined and were analysed to give information on the relationships of the variates. (4) On-going work by the author on tryptophan metabolism in primary alcoholics is compared to Shaw's findings on the kinetic behaviour of tryptophan in affective disorder. The possible prophylactic value of L-tryptophan (Optimax) in preventing both recurrent depression and recurrent alcohol abuse is outlined. (5) Data on body composition in normal subjects not hitherto available in the literature is provided.
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000378:metabolism*; D001823:Body Composition; D001827:Body Height; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism; D003863:Depression / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007553:Isotope Labeling; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism
D002712:Chlorides; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium