Effect of corn peptide on alcohol metabolism and plasma free amino acid concentrations in healthy men.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the influence of corn peptide on the reduction of the increase in blood ethanol level in healthy adult men after intake of alcohol at a dose of a 0.5 g per kg of body weight.

SUBJECTS

Twenty healthy male volunteers participated in the study.

DESIGN

The study was performed as a cross-over design. The subjects ingested corn peptide, and 30 min later alcohol was given. The blood ethanol and plasma free amino acids were analyzed at fixed times during a 2 h observation period after the alcohol intake.

RESULTS

In subjects not given corn peptide, the blood ethanol concentration reached the maximum level of 9.35 mM at 30 min after alcohol intake, then gradually decreased. In addition, the plasma free amino acid levels decreased after alcohol intake. When subjects were given 3 and 5 g corn peptide 30 min prior to the alcohol intake, a significant reduction of the increase in blood ethanol levels of 3.7 mM and 2.83 mM was observed. In subjects given 5 g corn peptide, the plasma alanine, leucine, proline and free amino acid levels significantly elevated and remained at a high level during a 2 h observation period after alcohol intake.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that the ingestion of corn peptide reduces the increase in blood ethanol level after alcohol intake and causes the elevation in plasma amino acids alanine, leucine, and proline.