Alcoholism and Myocardial Energy Metabolism

A review of the effects of chronic ethanol consumption on myocardial energy metabolism in animal models reveals that alterations in cardiac function are not accompanied by changes in the levels of the high-energy metabolites, ATP, and creatine phosphate. There are minor alterations in mitochondrial ultrastructure and function that appear to be accentuated by lowered nutrient intake. Observations to date indicate that, in animal models, there is an interaction between chronic ethanol consumption and caloric deprivation in eliciting alterations in myocardial energy metabolism. Furthermore, ethanol-related ultrastructural changes and depressed mitochondrial function are much more demonstrable in liver than in heart, suggesting strongly that the myocardium is less susceptible to the deleterious effects of alcohol than is the liver.