The Metabolism of Ethanol to Carbon Dioxide by Stomach and Small Intestinal Slices 1

Summary

It has been demonstrated that slices of stomach and small intestine are able to convert ¹⁴C-ethanol to ¹⁴CO₂. When compared to liver slices under the same conditions, the gastrointestinal oxidation was one-fifth to two-thirds of the hepatic capacity. Furthermore, organs obtained from germ-free animals were able to convert ethanol to CO₂ at rates equal to or greater than their conventional counterparts. The significance of these observations in relation to the effects of ethanol on the intestine and to overall ethanol metabolism remains to be elucidated.