[Metabolic abnormalities of amino acids in patients with alcoholic liver damage]

The metabolic abnormality of amino acids in patients with alcoholic liver damage is discussed. The abnormalities are variable according to the degree of hepatic damage, the amount of alcohol consumption, and the intake of amino acids. In general, the plasma concentration of branched-chain amino acids, aromatic amino acids and alpha-amino-n-butyric acid increases, whereas that of hydroxy amino acids, alanine and proline decreases, in alcoholics with liver damage. Serum gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity increases with the increase of alcohol consumption. This increase is accentuated by lowered carbohydrate intake at the time of alcohol ingestion. A nutritional survey among healthy male subjects revealed that the intake of cereals decreases with increasing amount of alcohol consumption, a finding which suggests that the intake of some amino acids may be altered by drinking habit.