In order to assess the influence of habitual alcohol consumption on hepatic and pancreatic function, and on the disposal of carbohydrate and lipid, determination of serum hepatic and pancreatic enzyme levels, and serum glucose, insulin and triglyceride on oral glucose challenge was made in relation with the amount of consumed alcohol.
1. GOT, GPT and γ-GTP levels increased correlated with daily alcohol consumption, and γ-GTP was the most sensitive marker for alcohol consumption.
2. Habitual alcohol consumption reduced serum amylase and increased elastase 1 and trypsin, while the excursion of these enzyme levels remained within normal range. Because people with elastase 1 or trypsin levels beyond normal range was found more frequently than with amylase, the former two pancreatic enzymes might be better marker of alcoholic pancreatic injury than the latter one.
3. Alcohol dependency in daily caloric requirement elevated serum glucose and triglyceride in fasting and 2 hours after glucose challenge. Hyperinsulinemia after glucose challenge might indicate that moderate daily alcohol consumption induces insulin resistance resulting in deteriorated glucose disposal.