ENDOGENOUS PRODUCTION OF METHANOL AFTER THE CONSUMPTION OF FRUIT

After the consumption of fruit, the concentration of methanol in the h uman body increases by as much as an order of magnitude, This is due t o the degradation of natural pectin (which is esterified with methyl a lcohol) in the human colon, In vivo tests performed by means of proton -transfer-reaction mass spectrometry show that consumed pectin in eith er a pure form (10 to 15 g) or a natural form (in 1 kg of apples) indu ces a significant increase of methanol in the breath (and by inference in the blood) of humans, The amount generated from pectin (0.4 to 1.4 g) is approximately equivalent to the total daily endogenous producti on (measured to be 0.3 to 0.6 g/day) or that obtained from 0.3 liters of 80-proof brandy (calculated to be 0.5 g), This dietary pectin may c ontribute to the development of nonalcoholic cirrhosis of the liver.