Introduction: This study investigated the impacts of prolonged consumption of burukutu; an African alcoholic beverage, on some haematological and hepatic parameters among human volunteer subjects.

Methods and Design: Fifty healthy male volunteers between the age range of 25-65 years from Kadima District of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau, Nigeria were recruited for this study and were coded according to the years of alcohol consumption:1-7, 8-14, 15-21, 22-28 for groups B, C, D and E respectively. Each group had ten (10) volunteers. Group A was christened as the control group having human subjects that had neither taken Burukutu nor factory-based lager beer. Full blood count was done using haematology analyser while spectrophometric   method was used to assay for the activities of Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alaninine Aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline Phospahatase (ALP), Gamma Glutatyltransferase (GGT).

Result: Results of the haematological parameters showed that RBC and WBC were reduced in all the groups’ relative control. Haemoglobin concentration was decreased in groups C, D and E. Packed Cell Volume was found to be reduced in groups B, C and D when compared to the control. Hepatic investigations also showed that AST and ALP were raised (p < 0.05) in all the groups when compared to the control. ALT was elevated in group E only while GGT was increased (p < 0.05) in groups D and E only. Total and direct bilirubin were elevated (p < 0.05) in groups B, C and E. Total protein was higher in groups B and C but lowered in groups D and E relative control.

Conclusion: Prolonged consumption of burukutu from this investigation had negative impact on the hepatic as well as the haematological parameters due its high alcohol content which is attributed to the fermentation process during production and antiquated techniques applied by the “brewer”. This beer is culture friendly and relatively cheap but its consumption should be discouraged.