Decarli, “Effects of prolonged ethanol intake: production of fatty liver despite adequate diet

Although the association of alcoholism and fatty liver was described as early as 1836 (3), the pathogenesis of this disorder is still the subject of controversy. Among the problems at issue is the question of whether the fatty liver observed after prolonged alcohol intake is due only to nu-tritional deficiencies associated with alcoholism or whether it is caused by alcohol itself (4-6). In the present study an attempt was made to dissociate the effect of ethanol per se from se-quelae of dietary deficiencies. It was found, both in man and in rats, that ethanol ingestion produces fatty livers, despite maintenance of adequate diets. Methods A. Clinical studie