Body Composition in Alcoholic as Compared to Control Individuals

Abstract

Height, weight, total body potassium, exchangeable sodium, bromide space, total body water, and concentrations of sodium, potassium, and chloride in plasma were measured in control subjects and individuals suffering from alcoholism, with techniques which included body counting and a multiple isotope method using 24Na, 82Br and 3HzO. No differences were found between control and alcoholic subjects so there was no evidence that chronic alcoholism altered body composition. In particular, there was no evidence of cellular damage or loss which would have been reflected in changes in KT or KIN. The data were combined and were analysed to give information on the relationships of the variates.