Elevation of alcohol dehydrogenase activity in the subclinically scorbutic guinea-pig.

1. Because it has been shown that a majority of alcoholics are subclinically scorbutic, the metabolism of ethanol was studied in subclinically-scorbutic guinea-pigs. 2. Hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase activity was raised maximally by ethanol within 2 days. 3. In twenty-three subclinically-scorbutic guinea-pigs fed ethanol for 2 weeks, the alcohol dehydrogenase activity (& SD) was 11.5 +_ 1.2 unitslg of liver protein compared with 8.6+0-6 units/g of liver protein in twenty-three healthy animals fed ethanol. 4. The NAD'INADH ratio in subclinically-scorbutic guinea-pigs and healthy guinea-pigs fed ethanol, shows that there is more NAD' available for oxidation of alcohol in subclinically-scorbutic guinea-pigs. These results may explain the increased tolerance of alcoholics to alcohol.