Effects of chronic ethanol and vitamin C administration on production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 in rats.

Chronic alcoholism complicated by alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is characterized by activation of inflammatory responses. Alcohol intake increases gut permeability allowing substances such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS) which are strong inducers of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) to enter the circulation. Vitamin C is an antioxidant with many cellular activities seemed to protect cells against alcohol-induced peroxidation.