[Features of vitamin C metabolism and the functional status of the liver in alcoholism and alcoholic delirium in the stage of detoxification therapy]. / Osobennosti obmena vitamina C i funktsional'nogo sostoianiia pecheni pri alkogolizme i alkogol'nom delirii na étape dezintoksikatsionnoi terapii.

The metabolism of vitamin C and the function of the liver were investigated in 106 patients suffering from alcoholism (34 with clinical stage 1, 53 with clinical stage 2, and 19 with alcoholic delirium). The levels of ascorbic acid (AA) were reduced while those of dehydroascorbic (DAA) and diketogulonic acids (DKGA) were elevated. Red blood cells presented an increase in both AA and DAA and a decrease in DKGA concentrations. AA excretion with the urine was diminished. Considerable liver dysfunction was ascertained. Intensity of the normalization of AA metabolism coincided in time with the normalization of liver enzyme levels (ALT, AsT, CE). Degree of changes in AA metabolism in alcoholism may to a certain degree depend on the severity of liver dysfunction.

[Effect of alcohol intoxication on ascorbic and dehydroascorbic acid levels in rat tissue. and human blood]. / Vliianie alkogol'noi intoksikatsii na soderzhanie askorbinovoi i degidroaskorbinovoi kislot v tkaniakh krys i krovi liudei.

It is found that acute ethanol intoxication is accompanied by a decrease in the ascorbic acid content in the brain, liver and kidneys. The content of dehydroascorbic acid in kidneys in this case increases and in the brain tends to decrease. The chronic alcohol intoxication of rats has an opposite (as compared to the acute intoxication) effect on changes in the content of ascorbic and dehydroascorbic acids in the studied organs. People with chronic alcohol intoxication have the lower content of ascorbic acid in blood plasma and the higher content in erythrocytes, the content of dehydroascorbic acid being increased.