title: Thyroid status in chronic alcoholics.
abstract: Serum thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and thyrotrophin (TSH) were measured by radioimmunoassay in 39 chronic alcoholics on admission. Two patients had a reduced circulating serum T4 and eight showed a low serum T3 level but basal TSH was not raised in any of the 39 patients. Interestingly, low T4 and T3 levels returned to normal after abstinence and high protein and vitamin supplemented diet for one week. It is clear from our observations that a normo- or hypo- rather than a hypermetabolic or hyperthyroid state is more common in drinking chronic alcoholics. Ethanol-induced "low T3 syndrome" has also been described and a mechanism of its pathogenesis is suggested.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood*; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine