Overgrowth of these bacteria can result in increased production of endotoxin which can escape into the portal circulation leading to increased plasma levels of endotoxin and a greater exposure of the liver. One of the possible mechanisms by which ethanol promotes the growth or alters the composition of intestinal bacteria is the pH of gastric secretion. Whether these two factors are causally related to each other remains to be determined. Studies are required to explore the relationship between intestinal pH and intestinal bacterial growth in ethanol-administered subjects. In addition, other biochemical and molecular mechanisms by which ethanol promotes intestinal bacterial growth need investigation.
Antibiotics prevents liver injury in rats following long-term exposure to ethanol.
Jejunal microflora in patients with chronic alcohol abuse. Severity of liver injury in experimental alcoholic liver disease. Correlation with plasma endotoxin, prostaglandin E2, leukotriene B4, and thromboxane B2.