Ethanol inhibits triglyceride synthesis and secretion by human small intestinal mucosa

We studied the effect of ethanol on human intestinal lipid absorption and on triglyceride synthesis and secretion. Human duodenojejunal biopsy specimens were incubated in a micellar lipid solution containing carbon 14-labeled oleate in the presence of ethanol 0.1%, 1.0%, and 5.0% (vol/vol). Tissue triglyceride synthesis was significantly decreased by 52.0% +/- 7.7%, 57.0% +/- 9.0%, and 81.3% +/- 4.0% (mean +/- SEM), respectively, when compared with triglyceride synthesis by control biopsy specimens incubated in the absence of ethanol. Tissue levels of oleate were increased in biopsy specimens incubated in the presence of ethanol by 90% +/- 30% and 115% +/- 5% for ethanol concentrations of 1.0% and 5.0% (vol/vol), respectively (P less than 0.02). At ethanol concentration of 0.01%, no change in tissue oleate or triglyceride levels was noted. The effect of 1.0% and 5.0% ethanol on triglyceride synthesis may reflect in large part their significant increase of the medium osmolarity. However, the osmolarity of the medium containing 0.1% ethanol was similar to that of the ethanol-free medium, and its effect is therefore probably specific. Duodenojejunal biopsy specimens were also preincubated for 30 minutes in a micellar lipid solution containing 14C-oleate, and subsequently were organ cultured in micellar-free medium in the presence or absence of ethanol 1.0% (vol/vol). During organ culture, the decrease in tissue oleate levels was similar in biopsy tissue cultured in the presence or absence of ethanol. However, in the presence of ethanol, triglyceride secretion to the organ culture medium was reduced by 49.9% +/- 11.1% (P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)