Alcohol and Gluconeogenesis—A Review

Abstract

Ethanol is a hepatotoxic agent capable of disturbing a variety of physiological functions in the liver. The actions of ethanol on the liver can be classified into two groups: actions resulting in the development of alcoholic liver disease, and those secondary to ethanol's own metabolism and which involve changes in intermediary metabolism. The subject of the present review, the effects of ethanol on gluconeogenesis, falls under the second type of action. This review is intended to familiarize the reader (particularly the general practitioner and the medical student) with the basic mechanisms involved in ethanol metabolism, gluconeogenesis and the action of the former on the latter.