Renal Excretion of Lactate and Magnesium in Alcoholism

A series of experiments in normal and alcoholic subjects following alcohol ingestion and lactate infusion indicates that good correlation of lactate and magnesium excretion is found following alcohol ingestion when the serum magnesium level is normal. Marked depression of serum magnesium levels in the alcoholic appears to limit the magnesium excretion following alcohol ingestion although lactate excretion is increased. Lactate infusion produces little change in magnesium excretion but does produce increases in lactate excretion comparable to that following alcohol ingestion. It is concluded, therefore, that although elevated levels of plasma lactate and increased excretion of magnesium and lactate are commonly associated in alcoholism they are not directly related.