[Is ethanol suitable as an energy carrier in infusion therapy?]

Using experimental animals and human volunteers the suitability of ethanol for parenteral nutrition was investigated. The most evident disadvantage is the relatively low metabolic capacity for intravenous ethanol. A steady state was attained in the animal experiment with the low dose of 0.2 g/kg bodyweight per hour. No indications were found, however, that intravenous ethanol would contribute to the development of a lactate acidosis. Merely a short time before death because of hyperalcoholemia (5-7% blood concentration) an increase in lactate concentration is found which might be caused by circulatory collaps. Additionally, the effect of intravenous ethanol seems to be of minor importance. Small effects were found only in the experimental animal as well as in volunteers. A very strong inhibition of galactose metabolism was found to be a significant effect of ethanol application. Despite of similar metabolic reactions neither the application of xylitol nor of sorbitol causes an inhibition of galactose metabolism. These results might be interpreted as signs for compartmentalisation of the different metabolic reactions in the cytoplasma of the hepatocytes. According to the results of these investigations ethanol merely evokes small acute metabolic effects. The low metabolic capacity and the established hepatotoxicity are indications for a restrained use of ethanol in parenteral nutrition.