Hematologic Effects of Alcohol in Man in the Absence of Nutritional Deficiency

Abstract

When ethanol was administered to human volunteers in doses equaling 46 to 66 per cent of caloric intake, and excellent protein and vitamin intake was maintained, vacuolation of bone-marrow pronormoblasts developed. Their presence appeared to be dose-related. Vacuolation of promyelocytes was seen less consistently, and only with the larger doses. The platelet count was significantly depressed during the third to the fifth week of alcohol ingestion in four of nine subjects. Serum iron levels fell after the withdrawal of alcohol. Ferrokinetic studies yielded results within normal limits in two subjects during the periods of alcohol ingestion. The hematologic alterations occurred despite the concomitant administration of pharmacologic doses of folic acid.