title: Interactions between alcohol and beta-carotene in patients with alcoholic liver disease.
abstract: We found lower plasma beta-carotene concentrations in alcoholics than in control subjects, but heavy drinkers (> or = 200 g/d) had about twice the beta-carotene of those drinking less (P < 0.01), with a significant correlation between plasma beta-carotene and alcohol intake (r = 0.6, P < 0.001). When beta-carotene beadlets (30-60 mg/d) were administered to hospitalized alcoholics given controlled diets, those with cirrhosis had a much lower plasma beta-carotene response than those without; the latter in turn responded with lower beta-carotene concentrations than did control subjects. Plasma retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and other carotenoids, such as lycopene, did not differ significantly. We concluded that plasma beta-carotene is relatively increased by heavy alcohol consumption, whereas in patients with liver damage, especially cirrhosis, it is lowered. In these patients, beta-carotene supplementation may be justified, but this should be coupled with control of drinking because of possible hepatotoxic alcohol-beta-carotene interactions.
authors.affiliation: Section of Liver Disease and Nutrition, Bronx VA Medical Center, NY 10468.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Leo
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lieber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood; D019207:beta Carotene
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; D000431:Ethanol; D002784:Cholesterol