title: The effects of moderate drinking and abstinence on serum and urinary beta-hexosaminidase levels.
abstract: The effects of moderate alcohol intake on serum (SHEX)- and urinary beta-hexosaminidase (UHEX) were studied in ten healthy volunteers, who ingested 60 g of 100% ethanol daily for 10 days. The drinking period was preceded and followed by an abstinence period. Moderate drinking and abstinence were rapidly and significantly reflected on SHEX, while UHEX levels did not change significantly during the study. Gramma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) decreased during the first abstinence period (P less than 0.05), but stayed thereafter at a constant level. It is concluded that SHEX may better reflect recent alcohol consumption than UHEX, GGT, ASAT or ALAT.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit of Alcohol Diseases, University Central Hospital of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kärkkäinen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jokelainen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roine
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suokas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salaspuro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000502:physiology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000201:enzymology; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013695:Temperance; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases