The Effect of Alcohol on Dynamic Posturography

Lee, Jin Choon; Goh, Eui Kyung; Jang, Min Ho; Lee, Byung Joo; Baek, Moo Jin; Roh, Hwan Jung; Wang, Soo Geun; Chon, Kyong Myong

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The acute effect of alcohol is well known. However, although many authors have studied the effect of alcohol on equilibrium and found a deteriorated balancing capacity, objective studies of deteriorated balancing capacity have rarely been reported. The object of this study is to assess the effect of alcohol on vestibular function impairment by dynamic posturography. MAERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve healthy male volunteers aged 23-27 years (mean 25years) were assessed by dynamic posturography 30 min, 60 min and 90 min before and after the ingestion of alcohol. Alcohol levels were measured by blood samples 30, 60 and 90 min before, at and after ingestion. The samples were analyzed for alcohol by chromatography (SIGMA diagnostics). Each condition in SOT and latencies in MCT were used to estimate the effect of alcohol.
RESULTS
The obtained results were as follows: 1) The time when serum alcohol concentration reach the maximum was 60 minute (50%). 2) Conditions 4, 5, 6 and composite scores showed statistically significant lower equilibrium scores (p<0.05). 3) Fourty-one percent showed normal SOT pattern, 33.3% showed generalized lower scores for all the conditions, 16.7% showed lower scores for the conditions 4, 5, and 6, and 8.3% showed lower scores for the conditions 5 and 6. 4) No significant effects were found for the latencies of MCT (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION
Acute alcohol ingestion influences impairment of vestibular and visual input on equilibrium.