13C-ethanol breath test reveals impaired alcohol metabolism in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection.
BACKGROUND
The gastric mucosal alcohol dehydrogenase activity was reported to be reduced in subjects with Helicobacter pylori-associated chronic gastritis. However, the role of H. pylori infection in the metabolism of ingested ethanol has not been fully elucidated.


OBJECTIVE
To clarify whether H. pylori infection exerts any influence on the metabolism of small amounts of ethanol in humans.


METHODS
13C-ethanol (100 microL) diluted in 100 mL water was administered orally to 22 healthy volunteers before breakfast. Breath samples were then collected every 10 min for up to 60 min. The content of 13CO2 (per thousand) was analysed using a mass-spectrometric method. The excretion rate of labelled CO2 was analysed by calculation of the following mathematical parameters, i.e., Tmax, Cmax, and AUC60.


RESULTS
In H. pylori-negative controls (n = 11), the Tmax, Cmax and AUC60 were 0.47 +/- 0.13, 19.1 +/- 6.0 and 13.7 +/- 4.5, respectively. The corresponding values were 0.53 +/- 0.16 (n.s.) and 12.7 +/- 4.8 (P < 0.05) and 9.0 +/- 3.6 (P < 0.05), respectively, in subjects with H. pylori infection (n = 11). Successful eradication of H. pylori was associated with significant increase of these parameters (Cmax)and AUC60, n = 6).


CONCLUSIONS
The metabolism of small amounts of ethanol is attenuated in subjects with H. pylori infection.
Suzuki
M
M
Division of Gastroenterology, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan. msuzuki@ntmc.hosp.go.jp
Maruyama
K
K
Suzuki
H
H
Tanaki
S
S
Suzuki
K
K
Ishii
H
H
D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001944:Breath Tests; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000378:metabolism*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D000431:Ethanol