Acetaldehyde influences glucose 1,6-bisphosphate level of human erythrocytes in vitro and in vivo.

In intact erythrocytes from normal adults, acetaldehyde, besides inducing metabolite modifications otherwise observed, markedly decreases the glucose 1,6-bisphosphate (G1,6P2) level. Pyruvate rapidly reverses the acetaldehyde effects. Also in vivo, the acetaldehyde that occurs in the blood stream after heavy alcohol intake produces a significant decrease of the erythrocyte G1,6P2 concentration. These changes support the role of 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate as the first substrate in the G1,6P2 synthesis. The significance of the glucose bisphosphate as glycolytic modulator is also discussed.