The role of phosphate in alcohol-induced experimental pancreatitis

Heavy alcohol consumption is a common cause of acute pancreatitis, however, alcohol abuse does not always result in clinical pancreatitis. As a consequence, the factors responsible for alcohol-induced pancreatitis are not well understood. In experimental animals it has been difficult to produce pancreatitis with alcohol. Clinically, alcohol use predisposes to hypophosphatemia and hypophosphatemia has been observed in some patients with acute pancreatitis. Due to abundant protein synthesis, the pancreas has high metabolic demands, and reduced mitochondrial function leads to organelle dysfunction and pancreatitis.
Source: Gastroenterology - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Source Type: research