[Interactions of alcohol and iron proteins]

The known relationship between ethanol and the two main proteins of iron metabolism, transferrin and ferritin, are reviewed. Transferrin synthesis decreases in alcoholic cirrhosis, and increases in alcoholic fatty liver. In the latter case, its turnover is accelerated. Serum desialylated transferrin increases in chronic alcoholism and could be the best marker of heavy drinking. The increased uptake of desialylated transferrin by the liver could explain the development of hepatic siderosis in some alcoholics. Serum ferritin increases in chronic alcoholism, much more because of liver damage than in relation to iron stores. It is clear in this review that few experimental studies have been interested in the investigation of these relationships.