Ethanol-induced alteration in thiamin status of young turkey poults

The effect of ethanol on thiamin status was determined in the turkey poult, a new animal model for alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy in humans. The poults were given ethanol (4 to 5% v/v) in the drinking water for six weeks post-hatch. This treatment decreased body weights and increased significantly the relative weights of the hearts. Ethanol consumption increased significantly the blood concentrations of pyruvate and lactate, decreased the activity of erythrocyte transketolase (TK), and increased the stimulation of TK activity of thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP) in lyzed blood cells (TPP effect). These findings indicate that ethanol treatment has an adverse effect on the thiamin status of the turkey poult.