ACETALDEHYDE METABOLISM AND LIVER CHANGES IN DOGS MAINTAINED ON A PURIFIED DIET

Abstract

Fifty to 60% of the adult dogs maintained on a purified diet containing the usual B-complex vits. developed a defect in acetaldehyde metabolism that could be demonstrated by an acetaldehyde load test. A low casein diet helped to produce it but a 19% casein intake did not. The delayed acetaldehyde disappearance curve was not associated with body-wt. changes but was correlated to some extent with hydropic degeneration in the liver. Other evidence of liver damage was not prominent. Liver fat, brom-sulfalein excretion and prothrombin times were normal, serum alkaline phosphatase possibly slightly elevated. Once the defect was produced, it could be remedied in some dogs by the prolonged admn. of a 30% casein diet; it was also benefited sporadically by Inositol. In other dogs disappearance curves could not be restored to normal even by feeding natural foodstuffs for moderate periods of time. Weanling rats grown on the same ration showed no abnormalities in acetaldehyde metabolism or liver histology.