EFFECT OF ALCOHOL ON EXERCISE-INDUCED CHANGES IN SERUM GLUCOSE AND SERUM-FREE FATTY-ACIDS

The effect of alcohol on exercise-induced changes in serum glucose, se rum free fatty acids, and serum insulin was studied in healthy male vo lunteers by performing an exhaustive ergometer exercise: (1) followed by alcohol intoxication (induced by 1.5 g of alcohol/kg of body weight ); (2) during alcohol intoxication (induced by 0.8 g of alcohol/kg of body weight); and (3) during hangover (13 hr after a dose of 1.5 g of alcohol/kg of body weight), Acute alcohol intake immediately before ex ercise inhibited the exercise-induced increase in mean serum glucose c oncentration and caused a mild decrease in serum glucose levels during recovery from exercise. Exercise during hangover also resulted in dec reased glucose levels during recovery from exercise. Alcohol administr ation immediately before or after exercise inhibited the postexercise increase in mean serum free fatty acids concentration. This was not se en during hangover, when blood alcohol concentration had already reach ed 0. In conclusion, alcohol interferes with the metabolism of carbohy drates during and after anaerobic exercise by decreasing the availabil ity of circulating glucose, Furthermore, during recovery from exercise , alcohol decreases the supply of free fatty acids for the body.