[Changes in serum parameters after oral alcohol intake in healthy men]

A short-time-study (1 to 24 hours) and a long-time-study (1 to 96 hours) after a single alcohol intake were made in 23 healthy probands. The pancreas and liver parameters as alpha-amylase, bilirubin, ASAT, ALAT, gamma-GT and GLDH in the serum were determined at regular intervals. The pancreas showed a sensitive reaction to alcohol expressed by an early rise of lipase activity. The liver enzymes of young healthy probands remained unchanged. Older probands, on the other hand, react by a distinct increase of the gamma-GT and GLDH as well as a decrease of the ASAT and ALAT. Also the enzyme quotients gamma-GT/ASAT and (ASAT + ALAT)/GLDH be obviously well suited to recognizing very early stages of liver lesion by serum examinations. For this purpose only a definite alcohol intake (I ml ethanol per kg body weight) is necessary.