Possible Interaction: Ethanol and Homocysteine

“ Ethanol consumption has been reported to predominantly inhibit the activity of a vital cellular enzyme, methionine synthase, involved in remethylating homocysteine.”

“In addition, alcohol significantly inhibited hepatic methionine synthase activity and increased homocysteine excretion in urine.”

“Intake of alcohol and a 1 yr increase in age were respectively and significantly (p < 0.05) associated with a 1.54 and 0.10 µmol/L increase in Hcy.”

“Other conditions that may increase Hcy levels include aging, obesity, diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, some medications (levodopa, anti-epileptics, anti-gastric reflux agents), and toxic substances such as tobacco and alcohol.”

“Patients with "elevated" Hcy levels performed significantly … in patients we found significant associations between Hcy levels and number of perseverations on the SCT (….047), and number of moves on the ToH (r=0.265, P=0.033); however, a linear … was not a significant predictor of neurocognitive test performance.”

“Elevation of plasma homocysteine concentration is considered as a predictor for the occurrence of alcohol withdrawal seizures and--as homocysteine is a cardiovascular risk factor--might contribute to the higher risk for myocardial infarction among alcohol dependent patients.”

“ Ethanol consumption predominantly results in a decrease in the hepatocyte level of S-adenosylmethionine and the increases in two toxic metabolites, homocysteine and S-adenosylhomocysteine.”

“These results support Jacques et al’s observation that lifestyle habits, especially the consumption of alcohol , significantly influence concentrations of plasma tHcy.”

“On pages 189‐192 of this issue of Alcohol and Alcoholism, Bleich … of an experimental study demonstrating that consumption of moderate amounts of alcohol (30 g per day) for 6 weeks by … concentration of the cardiovascular risk factor homocysteine ( HCy ), irrespective of the type of …, red wine or spirit).”

“The results in the ethanol group indicate that ethanol decreased antioxidant enzymes activity and increased MDA and tHcy compared with the control groups (P < .05).”