Effect of type of alcoholic beverages on carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, sialic acid, and liver enzymes.
BACKGROUND
There are only limited data obtained under well controlled conditions on the effects of moderate drinking on markers of alcohol use disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of moderate intake of different alcoholic beverages on these markers, including carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT), sialic acid (SA), and the liver enzymes gamma-glutamyltransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase.


METHODS
Eleven apparently healthy, nonsmoking middle-aged men were included in a 12-week randomized, diet-controlled crossover trial according to a 4 x 4 Latin-square design. Changes in CDT, SA, gamma-glutamyltransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase were analyzed after 3 weeks of daily intake of four glasses (40 g of alcohol) of red wine, beer, spirits (Dutch gin), or water (control).


RESULTS
After 3 weeks' daily consumption of red wine, a significant decrease of serum CDT concentration was observed compared with water consumption. There was no effect of any alcoholic beverage on the other outcome measures.


CONCLUSIONS
Daily consumption of 40 g of alcohol from different types of alcoholic beverages with dinner did not affect SA or liver enzymes. Further investigations to explore the mechanisms for the red wine-induced decreases of CDT, including changes in iron metabolism, are clearly needed.
Sillanaukee
P
P
Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Tampere Medical School, Finland. peeka.sillanaukee@fitbiotech.com
van der Gaag
M S
MS
Sierksma
A
A
Hendriks
H F J
HF
Strid
N
N
Pönniö
M
M
Nikkari
S T
ST
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001515:Beer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D014168:Transferrin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014920:Wine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D014168:Transferrin; C056759:carbohydrate-deficient transferrin; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid