Heart Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain Complexes Are Functionally Unaffected in Heavy Ethanol Drinkers Without Cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Chronic ethanol drinkers without cardiomyopathy exhibit normal MRC activity in the heart and do not show increased oxidative damage in myocardial membranes.

Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy: Pathophysiologic Insights

“…Similarly, using autopsy samples obtained from patients with the clinical diagnosis of ACM, Vikhert et al (35) found atrophy of myofibrils, dilation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, increased number of mitochondria as well as mitochondriosis (small mitochondria closely packed together), and an increase in the number of lysosome-like structures. In contrast to the aforementioned studies, Mirό et al (56) did not find evidence of mitochondrial injury in biopsy samples obtained from long-term ethanol drinkers ( n = 10). Specifically, no changes in indices of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes (i.e., complex I, II, III, and IV activity) or evidence of lipid peroxidation were found.…”

“…Differences among human studies may relate to a number of reasons, such as duration of drinking, degree of myocardial dysfunction, and experimental techniques. Interestingly, in the more contemporary study by Mirό et al, ethanol drinkers had been receiving pharmacologic treatments such as beta-blockers, which (depending on the type) have anti-oxidant effects (56). …”