EFFECT OF CHRONIC-ALCOHOLISM ON HUMAN MUSCLE GLYCOGEN AND GLUCOSE-METABOLISM

To determine the effect of alcohol on carbohydrate metabolism, 48 huma n muscle biopsies from chronic alcoholics were studied. The level of g lycogen and the activities of the enzymes catalyzing glycogen and gluc ose metabolism were analyzed. Chronic alcohol intake produced an incre ase in glycogen concentration and a decrease in pyruvate kinase activi ty before the first signs of myopathy appeared. When myopathy was pres ent, glycogen decreased. These changes may contribute to the decline i n skeletal muscle performance in these patients.