While alcohol-induced reductions in NAA has been consistently found in both human and rodent studies, Cho results have varied. Typically, below normal levels of Cho are observed in alcoholics in early abstinence (within 5 weeks), with significant increases at 3 and 6 months of sobriety (Ende et al., 2005). In chronic alcoholism, however, Cho levels may be affected by confounding factors such as hepatitis C infection (Zahr, Mayer, Rohlfing, Sullivan, et al., 2014). Social drinkers show significant relations between higher levels of frontal Cho and greater alcohol consumption in the past 2 weeks (Tunc-Skarka et al., 2015) to 3 months (Ende et al., 2006). Similarly, rats show high Cho upon acute intoxication (Zahr et al., 2010; Zahr, Mayer, Rohlfing, Hsu, et al., 2014; Zahr et al., 2013).
