An experimental study of thiamine metabolism in acute ethanol intoxication.

A dose of 3.9 g/kg b.wt of ethanol was administered to rabbits, and ethanol and thiamine concentrations, transketolase activity and thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) effect in blood samples were determined. It was established that ethanol ingestion produced a rapid decrease in blood thiamine levels and transketolase activity in erythrocytes and an increase in TPP effect in erythrocytes. These values reverted to normal within 2 or 3 days after the ingestion of alcohol.