The purpose of this research is to study liver damage by alcohol and to determine if alcohol damages the intestinal lining (gut). The leaky gut can allow products of intestinal bacteria into the bloodstream and cause liver damage. In this study, gut leakiness will be measured by a maximum of three sugar tests. We will also look at other indicators of liver damage in the blood, urine and tissue.

We are actively recruiting six groups for the study:

• Healthy individuals with no liver disease or alcoholism
• Alcoholics who have liver disease
• Alcoholics who do not have liver disease
• Individuals who have liver disease but are not alcoholic
• Individuals who have had a liver transplant because of alcoholic liver disease
• Individuals who have had liver transplants because of another kind of liver disease

Study participants will need to fill out a questionnaire, be interviewed regarding their health condition and have blood drawn for testing liver functions. Participants will also be asked to have up to three sugar tests performed at home. Two of the tests involve drinking a sugar solution and swallowing four sugar capsules after an eight-hour fast. They will then collect their urine for the next 12 hours. The third sugar test is an aspirin challenge, and not all participants may qualify for this test. The test requires taking four regular strength aspirins over a 12-hour period and then again one hour before drinking the sugar solution. Researchers will examine the urine collections to determine the magnitude of leakiness in the gut. The urine will need to be brought into our clinic the morning after collecting it. Participants will be reimbursed for travel costs.

Eligibility criteria are different for each of the six groups noted above. To inquire about your eligibility, call the contact number provided. 

You cannot participate if you:

• Are younger than 18 years old
• Are unable to give consent
• Have an unreliable drinking history
• Have significant renal impairment
• Are insulin dependent or have uncontrolled diabetes
• Suffer from clinically significant dehydration

To inquire about participation in this study, call the contact number provided. If you choose to inquire via e-mail, please refer to the title of the study in your message.