OVERSHOOT OF ETHANOL IN THE BLOOD AFTER DRINKING ON AN EMPTY STOMACH

The time required for ethanol to distribute between the systemic circu lation and the rest of the body water results in an 'overshoot' of the blood-alcohol concentration (BAG) during the first 30 min after intra venous infusion. To investigate whether a similar distribution phenome non occurs when ethanol is given by the oral route, we compared BACs a fter intravenous infusion and oral intake under strictly controlled co nditions by giving a 0.4 g/kg dose of ethanol over 15 min to six fasti ng female volunteers. The results show an 'overshoot' in three volunte ers who had the shortest time to BAC(max), which indicates rapid absor ption, and the time-course was similar to the distribution phase seen during the intravenous experiments. We conclude that BAC is sometimes higher than expected shortly after alcohol has been ingested rapidly. This finding can probably be explained by the fact that ethanol is dis tributed more slowly throughout the total body water than it is absorb ed from the gut.