The Interaction of Fructose, Dextrose and Ethanol on Human Performance

Abstract

1. The effects of orally administered fructose (1.2 g.kg-1) and dextrose (1.2 g.kg-1) on the performance decrement induced by ethanol (1.0 g.kg-1) in a series of perceptual, cognitive and motor tests were studied in twelve healthy, paid University student volunteers using a double-blind cross-over design. Ethanol was consumed at a constant rate over 20 min and the hexoses or placebo were given approximately 40 min later. 2. The peak blood ethanol concentration was attained earlier when the subjects also received either hexose than after placebo but although its rate of fall was unaffected, significantly lower ethanol concentrations were encountered in the hexose-treated groups in the latter part of the experiment. 3. In general, the subjects were impaired to a slightly lesser degree when they received a combination of hexose and ethanol than after ethanol alone. There were no differences between the effects of fructose and dextrose. 4. The results do not support contentions that fructose is able to accelerate a return to sobriety and observed differences between hexose and placebo-treated groups were attributed to an effect on the absorption of ethanol rather than its metabolism.

Effect of sucrose consumption on alcohol-induced impairment in male social drinkers

“…However, our finding that a sugar can attenuate alcohol intoxication without affecting BAL is new. Thus,previous studies finding attenuation effects have also found BAL differences, possibly due to the use of fructose (Franks et al 1977;Goldberg et al t979a;Perl and Starmer 1983). They attribute their results to absorption effects, but metabolism changes induced by fructose may have been involved (Mezey 1981;Crownover et al 1986).…”

“…This has been shown in both rats (Mueller et al 1971 ;Jones et al 1979) and in humans (Franks et al 1977;Goldberg et al 1979a, b;Perl and Starmer 1983). These findings have been seen with fructose or with syrups that combine fructose with other sugars.…”

“…A final issue is one of practicality. Fructose is not considered an effective alcohol antagonist because its effect is relatively small and because it is hepatotoxic at high doses (Franks et al 1977;Iber 1977;Linnoila and Mattila 1981 ;Mezey 1981). The sucrose effect seen here only partially attenuated alcohol's deleterious effects, and was observed after the subjects has fasted overnight.…”

“…These findings have been seen with fructose or with syrups that combine fructose with other sugars. While some authors attribute the attenuation in impairment to differences in alcohol absorption (Franks et al 1977), reviewers have concluded that fructose, but not sucrose, has the ability to enhance ethanol elimination (Mezey 1981), despite giving the appearance of affecting absorption (Crownover et al 1986).…”

Body sway and the effects of psychoactive drugs — a review

“…Three of the most sedative compounds with potent H I antihistaminic properties, chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine and amitriptyline, all consistently increased body sway. Drugs with anticonvulsant properties (phenytoin, amylobarbitone, meproba- Franks et al, 1976Franks et al, 1977Seppala et al, 1982Starmer and Bird, 1984Linnoila et al, 1984Hill et al, 1982 Linnoila et ol., 1984Scott et al, 1982Franks et al, 1975Franks et al, 1976Crawford et al, 1976Franks et al, 1981Bond and Lader, 1986Franks et al, 1978Franks et al, 1976Franks et al, 1979Belgrave et al, 1979aBelgrave et al, 1979bLinnoila et al, 1984Scott et al, 1982Bond and Lader, 1986Scott et al, 1982 Seppala et al, 1982Castleden et al, 1987Castleden et al, 1987Mattila et al, 1984McClelland 1987bNicholson et al, 1988Nikaido and Ellinwood, 1987Nikaido and Ellinwood, 1987Briggs et al, 1980Swift et al, 1987aMattila et al, 1984Nikaido and Ellinwood, 1987Nikaido and Ellinwood, 1987Hill et al, 1982 mate, tetrahydrocannabinol) also increased sway. Psychostimulants/ cerebral activating drugs (dexamphetamine, caffeine, Hydergine and denbufylline) all showed no significant effect on sway.…”