Acid-Base Changes in Young Men after Oral Intake of Ethanol

The authors studied a group of healthy men of an average age 24.4±2.1 yrs (x ± SEM) before the oral intake of ethanol and 1 and 2 hours after its ingestion. The volunteers, n= 10, of an average weight 79.1 kg ± 2.7 kg (± SEM) consumed within one minute 0.42 g ethanol/kg of individual body weight diluted in water (ratio 1:3). Concentrations of alcohol in venous blood were determined using Widmark method. One hour after the peroral intake the ethanol concentration reached 0.39±0.02 g/kg, 2 hours after peroral intake it was 0.33±0.03 g/kg.

Parameters of acid-base balance (ABB) from venous blood samples were monitored in probands. Compared with baseline values, the pH of blood did not change significantly. The values of pCO₂ in blood were significantly decreased, even the values of actual HCO₃ and standard HCO₃. The decrease of base excess continued 2 hours after intake of ethanol. There were significant variations in ABB (paired t - test), however in tolerable range. The values of glycaemia, AST, ALT, GGT, and AMS before ethanol intake and 1 and 2 hours after intake of ethanol were in the reference range and they did not change significantly.

The authors find important to document even "small" intake of alcohol which may be the cause of ABB shift to a pathological range. The doctors should always keep this in mind when doing the diagnostic statement. The changes of ABB due to alcohol consumption must be expected, especially if they are associated with other pathological conditions affecting the ABB.