Description

Abstract

The serum levels of transaminase enzymes in fifty burukutu (BKT) consumers from Dakachi drinkers and fifty healthy non alcoholic drinkers without any liver disease in Zaria, Kaduna state were investigated. These were further divided into light (0.5 – 2.50 liters/day), moderate (2.51 – 5.0 liters/day) and heavy drinkers (5.10 liters and above/day). Their blood samples were taken to estimate the activites of Alanine transaminase (ALT) and Aspartate transaminase (AST) enzymes in serum and the result indicated an increase in the level of burukutu subjects compared with the control. The serum activities of AST and ALT obtained from BKT consumers were 55.12±30.54 IU/L and 25.10±12.99 IU/L respectively whereas the control were 31.76±11.30 IU/L and 14.86±6.04 IU/L respectively. The values of AST and ALT in light, moderate and heavy drinkers were 35.12±15.77 IU/L and 16.62±0801 IU/L, 38.08±20.36 IU/L and 18.92±10.34 IU/L, 61.00±38.10 IU/L and 33.17±19.58 IU/L respectively. Those for control were 28.27±11.52 IU/L and 13.27±07.05 IU/L respectively.