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(Circulation. 1970;42:463.)
© 1970 American Heart Association, Inc.

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Acute Effects of Ethanol Ingestion on the Response to Submaximal and Maximal Exercise in Man

GUNNAR BLOMQVIST M.D.¹; BENGT SALTIN M.D.¹; JERE H. MITCHELL M.D.¹; George F. Vastagh M.S.¹

¹ From the Pauline and Adolph Weinberger Laboratory for Cardiopulmonary Research, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas (Southwestern) Medical School at Dallas, Texas.

The acute effects of ingestion of ethanol on the response to submaximal and maximal exercise were studied by noninvasive technics in a group of eight healthy men, ages 21 to 33 (series I). Cardiac output (dye-dilution technic) and intra-arterial pressures were measured in a separate series of experiments in a subgroup of four subjects (series II). Mean concentration of ethanol in the blood at the end of the experiment was 156 mg/100 ml in series I and 125 mg/100 ml in series II. Heart rates at rest and during submaximal exercise were higher after ingestion of ethanol, but there was no effect on stroke volume. After ingestion of ethanol cardiac output at rest and during submaximal exercise increased, and total A-V difference and total peripheral resistance decreased. The circulatory response to maximal work was not affected by ethanol. Maximal oxygen uptake did not change. Pulmonary ventilation was not altered during submaximal exercise but was reduced during maximal work.

These findings are in agreement with data from animal experiments suggesting that ethanol in blood concentrations below 200 mg/100 ml has no significant depressive effect on performance of the normal heart.

Key Words: Physical performance capacity • Work time • Mechanical efficiency • Lactate concentration

Submitted on April 23, 1970
Accepted on May 15, 1970

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